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DOCTOR 


DICK. 


BY 




KATE TANNATT WOODS. 


AUTHOR OF SIX LITTLE REBELS. 



ILLUSTRATED BY BOZ. y - 

^^COPVRJG: , 'r 

‘ pro o! 1 • 

! .1 r 1 . iLf j. 

> , 1 

BOSTON: 

D. LOTHROP & COMPANY, 

FRANKLIN STREET. 



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Copyright, iS8i, 

By D. Lothrop & Company. 


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c/ r> 




/ 32 - 


TO MY OWN DEAR BOYS 

DOCTOR DICK. 

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 


THEIR MOTHER, 





A PREFATORY CHAT 


This is not a preface, my dear young friends. I do not 
believe in them, and I know at least a score of young people 
who say “ Oh, skip that, and begin the story ! ” Do not skip 
this. I want to thank you one and all for your cordial recep¬ 
tion of The Six Little Rebels, and answer here the numerous 
letters concerning them. 

The “ college girl ” who was just crazy, to read Doctor 
Dick, can now read the following pages and be restored 
to reason ; and “ the boys of Riverbank School ” will find 
something to interest them, although we cannot gratify their 
desire to hear about “ some famous battles.” 

The “Georgia school-girl” who is in love with Dolly 
Warrington, and the academy boy “ who likes them all, but 
Reggie a little the best,” will now have an opportunity to 
become better acquainted with our dear friends. No one 
save the writer can know the mischief and goodness of each 
character, or the impossibility of describing them fully in 
one small book. Even now, when the chapters are ready 
for the printer, the Rebels themselves come trooping in. 

One cries: “ Why didn’t you tell about the race on 
Charles River?” 

Another says : “ Did you forget Doctor Dick’s famous dis¬ 
section of a cat. ? ” 

A third asks : “ Why did you leave out the account of 
our trip to General Gresham’s tobacco factory ? ” And Miss 
Lucinda, always kind and considerate hitherto, says gently: 

" It would have been kind of nice to have told ’em about 
the ‘ Lobster class,’ and Dick’s ‘ Sermon on a Clam/ ” 
vii 



A Prefatory Chat. 


IM 

Vlll 

In utter despair I put down the chapters and ask as 
sternly as possible, if they suppose that any sensible pub¬ 
lisher desires to issue a juvenile the size of a Webster's 
Unabridged ? 

Before any one has answered, or can answer, the door 
opens, and a tall, broad-shouldered young man, with brown 
hair and a silky moustache, enters. He holds in his hand 
a cane with an owl’s head upon it, and the great eyes glare 
at us as the young man speaks: 

“ Oh, rash and cruel friend ! why did you leave me standing 
alone before the public in the attitude of a conceited fop ? 
Why did you tell all the world that I objected to Dolly’s 
course of study ? ” 

“ You did ! you did ! you did ! ” calls a chorus of voices from 
the next room, and instantly the cane is brandished in that 
direction, and sounds issue therefrom which denote a playful 
struggle ; then a clear soprano voice is heard saying: “ Don’t, 
Wally! don’t, Chari ! you will hurt my dear Doctor Dick.” 
Little Bertie is paying us a visit, and the boys have a short 
vacation. 

Presently Dick comes back to us uninjured : the owl, how¬ 
ever, has lost an eye in the contest. Dick throws the stick on 
the sofa, and seats himself, saying, in his own half-mischiev¬ 
ous, half-tender fashion: “ Do write another book, and let 
the world see my angelic side ; confess, now, it does exist: 
and you must help me show it to poor Dolly.” 

“ Ah, Dick,” I say, “it does exist in all of God’s children ; 
and the true historian is the man or woman who can reveal 
it without the slightest taint of cant or hypocrisy.” 

As I look at Dick I think of the power he will exercise in 
the world. Strong of purpose, joyous, active, happy, gen¬ 
erous, true, and, as he opens his arms to receive his little 
playmate, or “ shipmate,” as he loves to call Bertie, I add 
tender. Surely the dear God has work for all such in this 
beautiful world. K. T. W. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP - PAGE. 

1. Miss Lucinda is moved to write a Letter 7 

2. Harvard Budd shows His Hand - 16 

3. Dick as Guardian.27 

4. Cora Birney has a Word to say - 36 

5. Lifted up above the Clouds - 46 

6. Dick makes a Study of Plants 37 

7. Dolly writes Cora a Letter 69 

8. Miss Lucinda has an Adventure - 81 

9. That dreadful Man - 92 

10. A Letter from Mrs. Miller - - 105 

11. President Lincoln’s Death - - - 113 

12. Lex and Bertie. 127 

13. “ Colonel Grit ”.142 

14. Joy Bells at the Annex - - - 155 

15. Jack Montgomery .177 

16. Siah Junior makes an Experiment - 191 

17. An Excursion to West Beach - - 206 

18. Dicksiana.222 

19. President Lex .233 

20. Rest for the Weary - - - - 256 

21. Danger.275 

22. Siah Junior as Joe - 296 

23. A back Seat .323 

24. Little Dode .339 

25. Cupid’s Captives .358 

26. A Break in the Chain - - - 372 

27. Dolly’s great Sorrow - 388 

28. Doctor Dick’s Rival - 408 


IX 




DOCTOR DICK , 


CHAPTER I. 

MISS LUCINDA IS MOVED TO WRITE A LETTER. 

Dear Miss Dolly : 

Its not often I feel moved to take 
up a pen, but sence I came back here I have 
done considerable thinking, and it ain’t all 
on my own account neither. 

“ When your pa wrote me such a kind 
letter and sent me a check for fifty dollars 
for ‘ extra wear and tear’ as he said ‘ of my 
cottage ’ I was as near mad as I ever was in 
my life, and it don’t do for fleshy folks like 
me to get riled up, it tends to heart trouble 





8 


Doctor Dick . 


they say. Well I didn’t keep angry long, it 
ain’t my way; but I couldn’t help saying 
that I was mor’n paid for all I did. I don’t 
hold to old folks livin’ alone, they get crusty, 
and selfish, and spiteful, and I don’t want to 
be neither one nor tother. You young folks 
did me good and I shall always maintain till 
I die that considerin’ all things you are just 
about as nice a lot as ever grew. About 
that fifty dollars -I have fixed it all right. 
You see the other day I made what you call 
a little tower up to Cambridge. I wanted 
some new gloves and Josiah’s folks was all 
needin’ flannels and so I made a day of it 
and went to the stores in the mornin’ early 
and then took a car over to Cambridge. 

“ I knowed just where to find our boys 
cause Mister Dick had put it down on a 
card for me. I didn’t ask more’n six times 
anyway — well, the woman who boards them 
she found out what I was after so she was 
kind of polite, though I don’t see the sense 
of her dressin’ up in a black silk in the 


Miss Lucinda Writes a Letter .. g 

mornin’ when she ought to be attendin’ to 

■ A wkt# * 

her cookin’. Well, I waited a considerable 
spell and nobody asked me to take my things 
off; by-and-bye I heard a whistle and land 
sake, I should have knowed it was Mister 
Dick if I had heard it in Goshen. He was 
going right up the stairs to his room and I 
stepped out into the hall. ‘ Mister Dick,’ I 
said, ‘ don’t be in such a hurry.’ 

“‘Oh Miss Lucinda,’he shouted, ‘bless 
your dear old heart,’ and then he come down 
from those stairs quick as a flash and kissed 
me right then and there. Mister Dick 
always did have a masterful sort of a way. 
Then we talked and talked and he wanted 
me to stop to lunch and I told him he would 
be ashamed to introduce such an old- 
fashioned cretur to his fine friends, and then 
he says just as natural as could be, the very 
way he used to talk in the old house. 

“ ‘ Miss Lucinda, when Dick Miller is 
ashamed of any true good friend you may 
hang him like Jeff Davis to a sour apple 


10 


Doctor Dick . 


tree. Clothes can be bought anywhere, 
friends grow; so off with the bonnet and 
wait for dear old Reg.’ Of course I was 
obliged to, so to speak, and when Reg did 
come I just sot there between those two 
handsome young fellows and looked from 
one to tother. 

“ It was the greatest day I ever saw. The 
lunch was just what you might expect when 
the housekeeper dresses up in silk early in 
the mornin’. Dick said he was starvin’ for 
some of my good cookin’, and Reggie looked 
as if he only ate once a w r eek an’ then it 
most killed him. ‘ Boys’, says I, holdin’ out 
a hand to each of ’em, ‘ how would you like 
to have me come right up here and make a 
kind of little home place for you ? I hain’t 
no special call to stay with Miss Dolly now 
that the boys are all gone off to school but 
Bertie, and it seems to me if you could kind 
of tolerate my old-fashionness and so on we 
might be cosy ? ’ Then Mister Dick cut up 
I tell you, he danced and shook my hand, 


Miss Lucinda Writes a Letter. 


il 


and whirled Reggie about, and said: ‘The 
very thing we want. Budd’s folks are in 
Europe, he’ll come too, and there’s Hawley 
from Connecticut, and three or four of our 
class, we will just fill up all your rooms and 
you are a jewel Miss Lucinda.’ Well Reggie 
he seemed pleased too, and somehow I felt 
so sorry for him, he looked so peaked and 
sad ; he needs motherin', that’s what he wants, 
and I have considerable of it in me if I am 
an old maid. Well those boys just flew 
round and almost before we knew it the 
house was hired and nearly every room taken 
by their friends. Dick he named it ‘ The 
Woodbox Annex,’ and next Monday we begin 
housekeepin’ in Old Cambridge. 

“ I have Josiah’s wife’s sister to do the 
roughest work an’ his oldest boy to do 
chores. The boys will really have a home 
of their own, fpr I shall only keep things 
sort of slicked up for ’em and let ’em do as 
they please, besides I hold it’s always best to 
set folks to work and Melissy, Josiah’s wife’s 


12 


Doctor Dick . 


sister, is kind of low down sence the shoe 
shops turned off some of their hands and 
the boy is a clear Dodge and wants to be 
earning some money. 

“So on the whole I’ll keep the fifty dollars 
and use it to fix up the boys’ room, and if 
you an’ Miss Cora feel moved to send on 
any pin cushions or such like to make things 
kind of tidy, why I shall be glad to see ’em. 

“ Mrs. Miller has sent me an awful nice 
letter, she says she feels happy about the 
boys now, for she could do so little for them 
tied up in New York with her invalid aunt. 

“ When we are all settled I want you and 
your pa to come on and see us. No more 
for the present. From yours, most true and 
kind, Lucinda Dodge.” 

It was a blue day at the “ Woodbox ” when 
this letter reached it. Like all young house¬ 
keepers Dolly had her trials. Smith the well- 
trained servant sent by Col. Brentford had 
acquired a taste for drink, and Dolly no 
longer dared trust her dear father with him. 


Miss Lucinda Writes a Letter . ij 

Aunt Axy was getting old and was unwill¬ 
ing to acknowledge it, and little by little 
Dolly took new duties on her own young 
shoulders. Bertie was the same lovable, 
loving child, away every day at school now, 
because the Doctor was sure he required the 
companionship of other children. 

Ned was with his cousins, Charlie and 
Walter, at a good but somewhat expensive 
school on the Hudson. In order to meet all 
these bills economy must be practised in the 
household, for no tidings had yet been re¬ 
ceived from Richmond, and the reports from 
Mrs. Neville were not very encouraging. 
Dolly found ample opportunity for outside 
work but little leisure for it. Her music 
could not be neglected; she had an idea 
that some day it would be a means of 
support, for this Dolly of ours had long 
since determined to devote her small inheri¬ 
tance from her mother to Reggie’s education. 
“ If I help him he can aid the rest,” she 
said to her father, “ and you see I could not 


*4 


Doctor Dick . 


leave you to attend college as Cora does.” 
Miss Lucinda was one of those unostenta¬ 
tious good souls whose chief business in life 
is to do something for others as if it were a 
matter of course. She could never enjoy 
her own knitting in her own quiet corner 
while some motherless child needed care. 
Her visit to Cambridge was the result of 
much thought, many sleepless nights, and 
earnest prayer; the beautiful self sacrifice 
which others might see in this step was all 
covered in her simple and generous soul by 
the one word duty . 

Dolly’s tiresome day had nearly closed; 
she had listened to Bertie’s account of school 
affairs, heard his spelling lesson, planned the 
housework for the following morning, and 
was now too weary to practice while she 
waited for her father’s return from the Med¬ 
ical Director’s office. Aunt Axy brought 
in the letter and found her young mistress 
sitting in her father’s chair, looking sad and 
lonely. 


Miss Lucinda Writes a Letter, i$ 

“ Deed Mis Dolly,” said the old servant 
tenderly, “ you is mopin, you is ; we mus just 
git de young gemmen back, it aint de same 
place without ’em/’ 

“ Yes, I do miss them ” said the girl wearily, 
“ we shall have some of them at Christmas, 
aunty, and after all it’s not very long to wait, 
since October is nearly half gone.” 

“ Well, here’s a letter honey, and it’s big 
’ nough to be chock full of news, maybe it'ill 
chirk you up a bit.” 

Dolly seized it eagerly, letters were her 
chief delight now. She read it through 
rapidly, and then went to her desk which 
now occupied a corner of the study. “ I 
shall answer her at once, bless her; dear me ! 
how pleased papa will be ; he has worried so 
much about not having her here this winter 
on my account, but we really could not 
afford it, and now the boys will have a home. 
On the whole ” said Dolly, throwing down 
her pen “ I will wait until papa comes, and I 
have talked it over with him.” 


CHAPTER II. 


HARVARD BUDD SHOWS HIS HAND AND CON¬ 
SIDERABLE HEART. 


WOODBOX. OCT, 1 8 ,- 



HygEAR MISS LUCINDA: 

I don’t know where to begin or end, 


I am so pleased with your new plan, and 
papa is so happy about it, that we have talked 
it over for hours. What a woman you are! 

“ Not one in a thousand would think of 
changing all their mode of life just to care 
for some boys who are only strangers 19 you, 
or were, when the war began. You are a 
dear, noble, unselfish, soul. Of course we 
will make pin cushions or anything else for 
the “ Annex,” only don't tell the boys one 
word of it, please.” 




16 


Harvard Budd Shows his Hand\ iy 

“ I shall write Cora at once; you know she 
is in Vassar College now and promises to be 
a fine scholar. I wanted to go dreadfully. 
I cried over it many a night when dear papa 
thought I was sound asleep, but you see it 
was not right. Even you, kind and good as 
you are, could not make papa’s life all I can, 
and he shall miss as little as possible. He 
said I might go, and wrote a letter ask¬ 
ing you to come and help me get ready, but 
the letter was never sent, for I found him 
one day sitting in his chair looking at my 
picture and dear mammas, and he said aloud 
little dreaming I was near: ‘ My little 

woman, it will make the old man desolate to 
lose you too, even for a short time.’ Do 
you think I would let honors and books 
drag me from him after that ? No, I had a 
little fight all by myself, and then one day I 
made him talk about the boys and I found 
we too had lost money by the war, and my 
darling was troubled about educating his 
wards for said he, ‘ Little woman, I shall do 


Doctor Dick . 


18 

by them as if they were indeed my own . 9 
Then I made him promise that I should do 
my share and he has consented, so you see 
it is all for the best, dear Miss Lucinda, and 
perhaps I shall be loved, and do just as 
much good in the world as if I went to 
college. 

“ Now comes the tug of war, and it is for 
you to settle this worry also. Will you take 
under your motherly wing Ned, Walter, and 
Charlie? The big boys can be of great ser¬ 
vice to them and I know it will do Reggie 
good to look after them a little. Papa will 
pay you liberal board for them and they can 
attend the excellent public schools there. 
When Reggie and Dick first entered Har¬ 
vard papa wished some way would open for 
the boys to be together. If your rooms are 
all full I don't know what you can do, but 
I am sure you will see how as you always 
have done. Now if we could be there would 
it not be charming ? Here we must stay for 
the present. Papa goes to the Medical Di- 


Harvard Budd Shows his Hand. ig 

rectors"office every day on some Government 
duty; he says he likes it, but I am very sure 
he gets too tired; nearly every evening he 
falls asleep on the lounge. 

“ Will Jack Montgomery give up Columbia 
and enter Harvard? Mrs. Miller wrote me 
that he thought of it. And now you dear 
good soul, when shall we send the boys, or 
better yet, when can Reggie come for them ? 
Not until you are settled. Please send us a 
line yourself for Reggie says so little, and 
Dick capers so even on paper that we are 
uncertain what to do. 

Your ever loving 

Dolly Warrington.” 

Letters now multiplied. Reggie wrote 
that the plan was perfect, as everything was 
which originated in the “ Woodbox; ” Dick 
filled two sheets of foolscap with “ remarks ” 
on the situation; and practical Miss Lu¬ 
cinda set down business matters in good 
round figures. “ Of course she could have 
the twins, and Mister Ned ; strangers would 


20 


Doctor Dick . 


not have the first chance if she knew it. 
Reekie and Dick had two beds in their room, 
the twins could have one and Mister Ned 
could occupy the little hall-room close by, 
she had counted on it for a kind of sewing 
room, but accordin’ to present doings she 
shouldn’t need much room to sew in. Yes, 
Jack Montgomery had turned his back on 
Columbia and would share Harvard Budd’s 
room for the present. The house looked 
very well considerin’; was rather barn-like 
at first, but come to get in some furnitoor 
and fixins’ it was a little more ship-shape. 
Dick and Reggie had worked like beavers 
and the lambrequins Miss Dolly sent was up 
in their room. Reggie couldn’t leave with¬ 
out missing many valuable lectures, but I 
suppose he wrote you and those three boys 
can travel alone just as well. I’d trust 
Mister Charlie anywhere.” 

The tidings ran swiftly round the little 
circle. Cora wrote from Vassar that every 
moment was crowded, but thank fortune 


Harvard Budd Shows his Hand. 21 

papa kept her purse full; she wanted to send 
her donation direct to Dolly in the shape of 
a twenty dollar bill and Dolly the brave 
must see to it that every one of our boys 
had some little reminder of C. B. in the 
“Annex.” Then Mrs. Miller always happy 
even in her great sorrow to brighten some 
face with pleasure, packed with her own 
hands the trunks of the boys and put in 
many a needed article, for said she in her 
note to the Doctor at Georgetown “ I could 
not have those motherless lads go through 
New York without a bit of vacation.” The 
“ bit ” lasted a week and the trio resolved 
that Mrs. Miller knew all about boys, and 
was just the cheeriest, brightest lady in the 
world. Then came the meeting in Boston. 

Reggie, Dick, and Jack Montgomery went 
to the station to meet them. Every one in 
the house knew they were coming and Dick 
had related various stories of each, which 
inclined the young gentlemen favorably 
towards the boys. At the station Harvard 


22 


Doctor Dick . 


Budd was seen walking about to the surprise 
of all, and in response to Dick’s queries as to 
“ what was up ” he quietly said : “ Why you 

know our horses haven’t been out much for a 
week and needed exercise and I thought you 
fellows wouldn’t mind driving over.” 

“ Oh I see, I see,” said Dick, “ a surprise as 
it were; well we are agreeable aren’t we, 
boys? Luxury suits my style, Budd, and 
you’re a trump for thinking of the little 
chaps.” 

% 

“ You couldn’t well forget any of your 
party,” said Budd politely. This same Mr. 
Budd was frequently considered a prig, a 
dandy, or as the boys have it “ a swell.” Like 
many another he was misjudged. It is true 
hi^ clothes were made at a fashionable tailor’s, 
and the number of his suits were almost 
legion, his gloves were faultless, his boots of - 
the finest, and as to canes — well — some 
one once said that Budd senior was noted 
for canes, not brains. We must however do 
him the justice to say that he was neither 



Harvard Bitdd Shows his Hand\ 23 

proud in a mean sense, or selfish, and con¬ 
sidering the atmosphere in which he lived, 
he was singularly unspoiled. Doctor War¬ 
rington who never failed to detect latent 
qualities spoke of young Budd as a capital 
fellow who only needed the spur of adver¬ 
sity to make him a fine man. At all events, 
Budd made no display of wealth and gen¬ 
erally offered some treat to his chosen friends 
with the air of one who would be indebted 
to them if they accepted. To him our boys 
owed many a favor. Sometimes a day’s out¬ 
ing in the family carriage, sometimes the 
opera or a fine play, and always the use of 
his large library while the family remained 
abroad. It was growing cool when the train 
at last thundered into the station, and our, 
young travellers were wondering if New 
England did not get up colder weather for 
October than any other section; they had 
little time for speculation before the cars 
stopped and they were at once surrounded 
by their friends. 

« 


24 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Gracious! how you have grown,” ex¬ 
claimed Dick. “ I say, fellows, these two 
rascals were in knee pants last year.” 

4 

“ No, we weren’t,” said Charlie ; “ you’re 
thinking of Bertie.” 

Ned Gresham had crept close to his 
brother in a shy half bashful fashion, not 
daring to make much outward exhibition of 
feeling lest. Reggie might not like it, but 
very proud when Reggie held his hand 
tightly and said “ This is my brother, gentle¬ 
men, and my cousins, I think you have all 
met before.” 

“ And these are all my adopted brothers, 
gentlemen,” chimed in Dick, “ and the best 
I ever had.” 

Then came the pairing off, and the get¬ 
ting into the carriage, while Reggie in his 
cool methodical way looked after the trunks. 

“ Now, boys,” said Dick, when they were all 
seated, “ you must tell us about home. What 
did my dear sweetheart say and what do ? 
Did Dolly join you in New York? Did the 


Harvard Budd Shows his Hand\ 25 

doctor say he would place you under my 
special charge ? Come out with it, news, 
news, I am starving for news.” 

“Charlie must answer,” said Ned Gresham. 
“ He has acted as spokesman since we left 
home and — Dick Miller?” 

“ Very good, Ned, very good, now Char¬ 
lie —” 

“ Your mother was very kind- to us, she 
took us everywhere, showed us New York in 
good shape, and I think fitted us out in or¬ 
der to save Miss Lucinda some trouble.” 

“ Bless her,” exclaimed Dick, “ she’s the 
dearest mother in the world.” 

“ Except mine,” said Jack Montgomery. 

“ I take off my hat to yours, Jack ; she is 
worthy of a better son, but my mother is 
simply perfection.” Reggie was looking 
sadly at him as he pronounced the last word, 
and the warm hearted Dick hastened to add: 
“ She has mother-love in her nature enough 
for a regiment; she adopted every one 
of the boys at the ‘ Woodbox,’ and this 


26 


Doctor Dick . 


rascal,” pointing to Reggie, “ calls her his 
other mother.’ ” 

“ She has been a comfort to us all since 
the day we first saw her,” said Reggie earn¬ 
estly. “ I never feel like checking Dick 
when he talks of her ; he could not praise her 
too warmly,” 

Dick’s hat was off in a moment. He had 
never during his brief college days, felt so 
proud as at the time of her visit to him ; a 
short hurried stay, but long enough to have 
the fellows see her and admire her in honest, 
gentlemanly fashion. 

Evidently Harvard Budd had given secret 
orders to his coachman, for the drive was ex¬ 
tended, and the fresh air revived the travel¬ 
lers before they reached their new home. 


CHAPTER III. 


DICK AS GUARDIAN. 

am tickled enough to see you,” said 
"\|||| Miss Lucinda, as she welcomed the 
bosy, “ and land sakes, how you’ve growed! 
who can keep you in clothes ? Mister Char¬ 
lie, you must have a stone put on your head, 
it ain’t becomin’ in you to get so much above 
your twin. Well Mister Walter, what’s your 
head full of now? machinery I’ll be bound; 
and here’s Mister Ned, handsome as ever; 
well, well, boys, you are all to home now, 
and must make yourselves happy. I must go, 
for these late dinners keep a body busy.” 

And away went Miss Lucinda panting to 
the basement. 


2 7 


28 


Doctor Dick. 


Who can picture the scene in the upper 
front room of the Annex that nmht ? It was 

O 

one to make a mother’s heart leap for joy. 
The trunks were unpacked, and one by one 
the elder boys handled each article with ten¬ 
der care and loving comments on “ dear 
Mother Miller.” 

Jack Montgomery was not forgotten by 
his mother, and Harvard Budd, who had 
lounged up stairs from his elegant room be¬ 
low, was surprised to find himself remem¬ 
bered also. Mrs. Miller had not forgotten 
his courteous attentions the summer pre¬ 
vious at Beverly Farms, anch her little gift 
was the very thing to please a fastidious 
young man, a beautiful ivory tablet with his 
name carved upon it. Reggie looked again 
and again at the law books which he had so 
long coveted, and lively Dick danced about 
in a new dressing gown with a case of surgi¬ 
cal instruments under his arm. Of course he 
was envied by all his class, and laughed at 
not a little for the gift in season. “ I ordered 


Dick as Guardian . 


29 


them for you, my clear Rattlebrain, when our 
friend Doctor Weiner went abroad; he re- 
turned only last week, and i cannot wait 
until you come out a full fledged M. D., be¬ 
fore presenting them. Your father will laugh 
at me of course.” 

This was written on a slip of paper at¬ 
tached to the case. 

m 

The confusion of tongues increased on 
the upper floor as the trunks were emptied, 
and at last, when beds, tables, lounge, and 
chairs were all covered, Miss Lucinda ap¬ 
peared. 

“Well, I never,” was her characteristic 
salutation, as she opened the door and the 
following tableau presented itself: Walter 
was carefully stowing away some models in 
the bottom of his trunk; Charlie sat between 
two piles of dry goods trying to discover 
some night shirts; and Ned was leaning lov¬ 
ingly on his brother’s shoulder, while Reggie 
eagerly turned over page after page of his 
new treasures. The younger boy could not 


30 


Doctor Dick . 


understand a word of all he saw but it was 
enough for him that dear old Reggie was 
smiling and happy. On one bed lounged, 
gracefully of course, “ Budd the magnifi¬ 
cent, ” as the boys called him, and on the 
other Jack Montgomery’s sharp eyes peered 
over the top of various articles, such as 
shoes, school-books, hat-boxes, towels, soap, 
skates, dumb-bells and the usual prop¬ 
erty of boys. Dick, the witty, wise and mis¬ 
chievous, known everywhere as “ Doctor 
Dick,” sat prone on the floor as near the, 
centre as he could get, considering the pres¬ 
ence of three trunks, and the condition of 
the room. On his head he had perched a 

new skating cap, his elegant dressing gown . 

\ 

was literally thrown on, his eyes were spark- 
Hng, his cheeks rosy, and for once he was 
speechless; among the treasures he had dis¬ 
covered a box of confectionery, and at the 
moment of Miss Lucinda’s entrance he was 
laboring with that adhesive sweetmeat, 
known as “ Butter Scotch.” 


Dick as Guardian. 


31 


“ Well, I never,” repeated Miss Lucinda, 
“ how do you expect to get into your beds 
this night ? ” 

Reggie sprang up 'to offer her a chair; 
Dick rose also, after many attempts, and 
presented the box of confections, while he 
made frantic efforts to exercise his jaws, 
much to the amusement of the rest. 

Walter and Charlie began a vigorous hunt 
for certain articles, marked Lucinda Dodge, 
and the good woman seated herself with a 
look of dismay on her benign countenance. 
Suddenly her eyes rested on Dick who was 
still making absurd grimaces, as he vainly 
tried to free his handsome teeth and im¬ 
prisoned tongue. 

Even aunt Lucinda forgot her Puritan 
grimness and chuckled audibly; every one 
joined in the chorus; when tired of laughing, 
they sat to work with a will, and wardrobe 
and closet soon concealed all the garments 
which the the trunks had discarded; then 
came the arrangements for sleeping, after 


32 


Doctor Dick. 


which “ Miss Dodge,” as all the young 
gentlemen called her, went below, bearing 
her own share of gifts, while she said to her¬ 
self, “ Was there ever such folks ? As aunt 
Axy used to say, ‘ They make a little bit 
of Kingdom Come right here on earth.’ ” 

It was one of the fine points in Dicks 
character that so much strength and nobility 
was hidden beneath his sportive manner; 
when occasion offered he was as dignified 
and thoughtful as any college Don. 

When the guests had left, Dick’s manner 
became that of a business man. He had 
found out the proper schools, had investigated 
the subject of text-books, and knew exactly 
when, how, and where, the boys should 
enter on their duties. He had done all this 
while Reggie fully intended to, but was 
absorbed in his studies. 

Dick’s quickness aided him everywhere; 
where Reg plodded on faithfully, Dick 
sailed easily. Both young men were fav¬ 
orites with their professors, both stood well 


Dick as Guardian . 


33 


in their classes, and the only matter of regret 
between them was Dick’s devotion to medi¬ 
cine, and Reggie’s decided preference for the 

law. 

In society, Dick was a universal favorite 
while Reggie’s quiet manner and natural 
reserve led some to question his reputed 
fine scholarship. Dick knew every pretty 
girl worth knowing, and owned a small 
photographic gallery of his own, wherein 
were displayed his numerous friends. His 
collection of pen wipers, slippers, cushions, 
and nick nacks, furnished much amusement 
for his friends in college. He exchanged 
rings, borrowed charms, wrote dainty notes, 
and rivaled “ Budd the magnificent ” in the 
number of his invitations, and yet, he was 
clear-headed, sure of himself, and determined 
to stand well. 

“ I think I have the elements in me which 
might lead to fastness,” he said one day to 
Jack. “ Oh, no, you haven’t Dick,” said 
Jack remorsefully, “you are so cool. You 


34 


Doctor Dick . 


know just when to say no, and stick to it; 
now I say no again and again, and then 
hate myself for giving in.” 

Poor Jack had been beguiled into attend¬ 
ing a card party without ladies and his head 
was now dazed and painful owing to the 
champagne he had taken. 

“ You don’t know,” said Dick eagerly, 
“you don’t know half the old Adam there is 
in us all, Monte, and the question is, shall it 
govern, or shall we? You see when lam 
tempted I think of that mother of mine ; she 
said once, 4 Never do anything, my boy, 
which you will regret when you are a man; 
he is most manly who is most pure.’ Now 
Monte, if you would think of that little 
woman in New York who loves you as she 
does her eyes, you would stop short, and 
not get into scrapes, and then Monte, old 
boy, if you didn’t pretend to be an infidel I 
might say that strength comes for the 
asking.” 

“ I am not an infidel, Dick, I assure you, 


Dick as Guardian . 


35 

but so much cant and nonsense disgusts me. 

“ I know, Monte, but who ever heard of 
counterfeit coin without the genuine ? 
Good-by, I must cram now, before the little 
shavers come in; you know we fellows are 
sort of guardians to them, and Chari already 
declares you to be the prince of good fel¬ 
lows.” 

“ Confound it, Dick, I mean to be. Say I 
have a bad nervous head-ache, will you ? 
but don’t let the boys know the rest.” 

Jack Montgomery had reached the point 
where he scorned himself, and every one 
knows it is a dangerous one in any young 
man’s career. 


CHAPTER IV. 


CORA BINNEY HAS A WORD TO SAY AND SAYS IT. 

ear Reginald, and Doctor Dick: 

“ Of course you have little leisure to 
think of old friends now, but it is best to 
write you as I agreed to. I am worried 
about our Dolly. How does she write to 
you? In good spirits I dare say, for she 
thinks you need cheering. I don’t think any 
such thing. You have heaps of pleasure, lit¬ 
tle care, and if your tailor does not fit your 
coat to please, you growl (?) a little at him, 
and he makes another, whereas we poor girls 
dare not complain of bias, or gore, lest we be 
assailed as ‘ fussy,’ ‘ over particular,’ and 

‘hard to please;’ you can if you will, give 

36 



Cora Binney has a Word to say . 37 

all your thoughts to study and throw away 
clothes that require mending, we girls must 
plan, repair, and despair . However, about 
Dolly; mamma w r as in Washington last 
week, and of course she visited her “ other 
daughter. 5 ' She wrote me that it made her 
heart ache to see her so sad, so lonely, so 
patient. The Doctor seems quite nervous 
and unlike himself, but he will work; this 
worries Dolly constantly. Then she does not 
go out enough. She is ‘ too tired 5 she says, 
when her home duties are done, and she will 
study and practice just so much every day. 
Bertie grows finely; and aunt Axy flour¬ 
ishes; but my precious Dolly is lonely and 
sad. How could she help it, all alone. Even 
Mrs. Thorpe, who used to run away from 
her sick soldiers to sit an hour with her has 
deserted her now, for she has gone to the 
front on duty for the Sanitary Commission. 
Do think of something we can do for our 
kind, good friend, who has always done so 
much for others. Mrs. Miller would rejoice 


Doctor Dick . 


to have her with her in New York, but her 
father says he will not leave his post for 
pleasure. Mamma urged him to spare Dolly 
to her until after Christmas, but the child 
would not leave him. Smith, I fancy is 
proving troublesoirue, and yet they dare not 
discharge him as he is now so well trained, 
and it is so difficult to find any one able to 
move Doctor Warrington. 

“ Do write me soon, and devise some means 
to brighten up the ‘ Woodbox.’ One of the 
surgeons told mamma that Doctor Warring¬ 
ton would not live to see the close oi the 
war if his friends did not restrain him ; he 
was wearing himself out rapidly, and still 
contending with his old physical injuries. 
Dear man, we cannot spare him, even to our 
country. Your friend, Cora B.” 

“ Just like her,” said Dick, as he finished 
reading the letter. 

“ Who ? ” asked Reggie. 

“ Dolly; she’s not made of gutta-percha if 
she does think so. I have half a mind to 


Cora Binney has a Word to say . jp 

scold her well, for not telling us how mat¬ 
ters were. Cora’s a trump.” 

“ Dolly needs love, kindness and care, 
rather than scolding, poor girl,” said Reggie, 
with a rising flush on his pale face. 

Dick smiled; not one of the “ Rebels ” 
would ever admit that Dolly could by any 
possibility be in error. 

It was late that night before the two friends 
returned, and many plans were discussed ; at 
last they determined to consult “ Miss 
Dodo:e ” as Mother Miller was too far 

o 

away. 

“ What’s become of his classmate, that 
funny doctor who was so kind to him ? ” said 
practical, far-seeing Miss Lucinda. 

“ We visited him not long ago,” said Reg- 
gie. 

“ You might do worse than ask his opin¬ 
ion, ” said the good woman, “ it’s just possible 
that the Doctor could be coaxed to leave 
the ‘ Woodbox ’ durin’ the winter as well as 
in the summer.” 


40 


Doctor Dick . 


“ I take, I take,” shouted Dick. “ Reggie, 
let’s call on him early to-morrow.” 

The call was duly made. Dr. H-was 

at home to the young gentlemen, and entered 
into their plans eagerly. 

“ You must have him with you,” said he, 
“ bring him here; here in old Cambridge he 
will find his friends, and comfort his boys; 
bless me, it is dreadful to think of that poor 
child there so much alone. I shall write 
Warrington myself; we will get up a con¬ 
spiracy, young gentlemen; we will storm the 
‘ Woodbox,’ and my good friend must sur¬ 
render.” 

Back went our boys to the Annex, where 
Miss Dodge had already held a conference 
with Jack Montgomery and Mr. Budd; both 
gentlemen consented to give up their rooms 
on the first floor to the invalid Doctor, and 
Jack at once decided to be coached by him, 
and keep away from card parties. 

Thus it was settled. Budd took a room 
next door, and Jack who did not dare trust 



Cora Binney has a Word to say . 

himself far from his good friend, willingly 
climbed another pair of stairs to a small room 
which was hastily prepared for him. 

Dr. H-called himself, to say that the 

•» 

sooner the change was made the better, and 
his letter was already on its way. Reggie 
wrote a long pleading letter to his guardian, 
addressing him as a son mmht an indulgent 
father ; Dick wrote as only Dick could write, 
mixing jest with earnest, and the younger 
boys wrote also, saying they never could get 
along well in their studies without him, and 
last of all, Miss Lucinda covered a full sheet 
with “ reasons why.” 

No sooner had the letters been deposited 
in the mail box than Dick had a new inspir¬ 
ation. He would be excused from lessons 
and run on after them ; he could kill two 
birds with one stone. His father would be in 
Washington for a few days, and he was anx¬ 
ious to see him. He would pick up his mother 
in New York, and take her on. Both would 
help make ready at the “ Woodbox,” and 



42 


Doctor Dick. 


Aunt Axy’s coming would be a blessing to 
Miss Lucinda. Of course Reggie ought 
to go, but h**could look after the youngsters 
better and “ you know,” added Dick with 
a merry twinkle of his eye, “ that Dolly 
always would mind me.” 

Reggie knew only too well that Dick 
could better afford the expense, and also 
that his friend’s active habits would make 
him a more useful companion. 

“ You must go, Dick, by all means,” he 
said, “ and do manage to send Smith away; 
my blood boils when I think of that misera¬ 
ble fellow making them all uncomfortable.” 

“ The Doctor won’t need any one here,” 
said Walter. “ We fellows can roll his 
chair and help him into a carriage, so that 
much will be saved.” 

“ Wally is getting tremendously econom¬ 
ical since he found out from Aunt Axy 
that Dolly saved all her spending money 
for us,” said Ned. 

“ Who said so ? ” asked Reggie, suddenly 


Cora Binney has a Word to say. 


rousing. “ Who dared to ? I have been 
afraid of something of the sort; and that * 
is the reason she’s so sad." •> Reggie sat 
down and put his head on his hands. 

Dick shook his head at the younger ones, 
and replied quickly: 

“ Why, of course she would, you silly 
fellows. Dolly looks on you as so many 
brothers, and I would not give much for 
either brother or sister who couldn’t share 
a few pennies. Wait until we get Dolly 
here and you will see how little time she 
will have for sadness.” 

Reekie was comforted but not convinced. 

oo 

The feeling that he was a burden to his 
guardian constantly haunted him, and he 
could never get a satisfactory answer when 
he questioned the Doctor about their bank 
account. 

Aunt Axy had one day hinted to the boys 
something about Miss Dolly’s money which 
her ma left-her, and how Miss Dolly said 
to her pa that “ she would not use a penny 


44 


Doctor Dick . 


of it as long as her dear boys needed books 
or clothing.” As to Bertie no one but 
Aunt Axy and Miss Lucinda knew that 
the little fellow’s clothes were all made 
by Miss Dolly’s own fingers out of some 
the other boys outgrew. It was a little 
hard at first to get the patterns which she 
always purchased nicely cut, to fit the 
limited amount of cloth, but Miss Lucinda 
had done wonders in that way for Josiah’s 
boys and her hints were invaluable to the 
young seamstress. 

“ Papa and Reggie never even guess,” 
she said one day to her counsellors. “You 
see Reggie is so proud he would leave 
his studies at once, and he shall not if I 
can help it.” 

Dolly had on this occasion, with the aid 
of her machine and Miss Lucinda made 
an entire sailor suit out of garments 
which Ned and Reggie had discarded. 
When they were fitted ' the Doctor and 
elder brother admired the selection, and 


Cora Binney has a Word to say . ^5 


neither suspected the handiwork. Dolly 
knew that the money given her for the 
purchase of the suit supplied Walter with 
some coveted tools. 

The long hours of patient labor, the 
weariness of body and the loss of time 
for her own studies, were all hid in Dolly’s 
own kind heart. She was a brave little 
woman in all save years, and indeed, her 
years had been crowded full until she felt 
as old as dear Mrs. Thorpe. 

That she never complained was due to 
her womanliness, but many a sad and lonely 
hour the dear girl spent in the old church, 
at the organ while Smith the unsteady, 
acted as bellows boy. She played her 
own troubles away as she practiced. 

Sometimes she forgot herself, and Smith 
would be compelled to remind her that 
it was growing late; then she would rise 
wearily, close and lock the organ, and go 
home to prepare some dainty for her 
father whose appetite was poor indeed. 


CHAPTER V. 


LIFTED UP ABOVE THE CLOUDS. 

APA dear,” said Dolly one Saturday 
morning, “ I think I shall spend most 
of my time at the church this afternoon ; 
that new anthem is quite difficult, and I 
must practice it thoroughly before our choir 
meets.” 

“ As you think best, dear; only keep your 
wraps on for a time, the old church has a 

dampness about it which is to be feared at 

. * 

this season.” 

“ I will take Bertie too papa, he enjoys 
listening to me so much, and it is not so 
dreary as staying here alone with Aunt 
Axy.” 



46 


Lifted Up Above the Clouds . ^7 

“ And I,” said the Doctor, “ will ask Bax¬ 
ter to drive me home so you need not be 
troubled if I am late.” 

“No papa, Dr. Baxter has kept you out 
too many times for that.” 

It was growing dusk in the old church, 
and still Dolly sat at the organ. Bertie had 
long since tired of piling the music books 
up for a fort, and was now lying fast asleep 
with his head on a pile of them, while his 
beautiful hair fell over his shoulders. 

Smith at the bellows had exhausted the 
supply of apples which he had brought with 
him, and he was now pumping away with a 
deep scowl on his face, wondering “ if Miss 
Dolly remembered that de choir meetin’ was 
cornin’ in de evenin’.” 

Dolly had indeed forgotten; her music 
had lifted her above all her surroundings. 
She had conquered the new anthem, and 
then gone through the psalms and hymns; 
now she had drifted into her favorite com¬ 
positions. She felt like singing; the week 


4 8 


Doctor Dick . 


had been a trying one, she had more than 
once found her courage failing, but the end 
had come — to-morrow, the sweet, restful, 
delightful Sabbath would be here, and de¬ 
spite the horrid war, the presence of blue 
coats and bright buttons, and the prayers 
for victory she would find peace and quiet 
in the old church where the once beautiful 
mother had played the organ as she did 
now. Dolly always thought of her mother 
in church; she thought of her now as she 
sang in full clear tones the well-known 
words of Keble: 

“ Let storm and darkness do their worst; 

For the lost dream the heart may ache, 

The heart may ache, but may not burst; 

Heaven will not leave thee nor forsake.” 


Through each verse the sweet voice soar¬ 
ed up and up, until at last came those clos¬ 
ing lines which have comforted so many 
hearts of young and old. 


Lifted Up Above the Clouds . 


49 


“ Heaven’s light is poured on high and low; 

To high and low Heaven’s Angel spake : 

* Resign thee to thy weal or woe, 

I ne’er will leave thee nor forsake.’ ” 

As the last words died on her lips, Dolly 
leaned forward and rested her head on the 
music-rack. Tears stole slowly down her 
cheeks, and her fingers still touched the 
keys. 

“ No one knows,” said Dolly to herself 
“ no one can know but Him; it is so lonely 
sometimes; no mother, no brother, no sister, 
and poor dear precious papa growing every 
day less able to think of others. I miss the 
boys every hour; I miss Cora, Mrs. Miller, 
every one,' but 1 will be patiept, I will 
be resigned.” 

She had not heard a step on the gallery 
stairs, she did not know that near her stood 
one whose own eyes were moist, and whose 
will was good to run away from the spot 


5° 


Doctor Dick . 


although he had anticipated so much pleas¬ 
ure in seeing her. 

“ Dolly, cousin Dolly,” said the intruder, 
“ have you only tears for a fellow when he 
has nearly broken his neck climbing up here 
to find you ? ” 

Dolly turned quickly. 

“Oh Dick,” she said, “I am so glad — is 
any one ill ? where did you come from ? I 
am so thankful.” 

“ Thankful for what Dolly ? ” said Dick, 
holding both her hands in his. 

The old cheery Dolly came back as he 
held her there, and she answered lightly, 
with the tears still on her lashes. 

“ Thankful that you did not break your 
neck, Dick, and that you came to remind 
me of Bertie ; the dear child may have taken 
his death while I have been mooning over 
my music.” 

“ Mooning , is it ? I thought it sounded 
more like moaning when I came in.” 

“Yes, Dick; I always think of mother 


Lifted Up Above the Clouds. 5/ 

here, and sometimes I — well — where is 
your mother Dick ? ” 

“ When I have roused my little friend I 
will tell you,” said Dick. “ Come Bertie, 
little ship-mate, how are you ? ” 

“ Oh, Dick, Dick ! ” exclaimed the child 
when his eyes were fairly open, and he saw 
who held him in his arms. “ Oh, Dick, you 
darling, darling Dick ! I dreamed I was 
in Heaven ; and now it’s true, isn’t it ? ” 

“ Did you ever see an angel with a mous¬ 
tache, Bertie ? ” 

“Never,” said the child soberly. “But 
yours isn’t a very old one is it, now ? ” 
Dick was somewhat proud of the new 
adornment, and in his secret heart he was 
curious to know what his friend Dolly 
would think of it. Her laugh at the child’s 
remark vexed him, and he hastened to say: 

“ No, but would you believe it, I was so 
changed by it that Cousin Dolly hardly 
knew me; she was not half as glad to see 
me as you are, shipmate.” 


52 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Let us go now.” said Dolly, hurriedly, 
“ you know I must be here at my post this 
evening, and I shall find work at home.” 

“Yes, let us go,” said Dick. “I never 
did fancy organ lofts as a place of residence. 
Smith, how are you ? ” he added as the 
black boy emerged from his place. 

“ Right smart Massa Dick, thank ye.” 

“ Then oblige me by opening a door 
down there, while I carry Bertie over the 
stairs.” 

“ I’ll tote him, Massa Dick.” 

“ Not if I know it,” replied Dick picking 
the boy up as he had done many times in 
the past. “No one can have my little 
brother while I am here.” 

“ ’Cept Dolly, Dick. I love you and 
Reggie, and Wally, and Ned, and Charlie, 
and Miss Lucinda and Uncle Doctor, and 
papa, and poor sick Auntie, but Dolly best 
of air 

“ Oh, ho ! ” said Dick aloud, but in the 
boy’s ear he whispered, “ That’s right, you 


Lifted Up Above the Clouds . 33 

young rascal; she is your best friend.” 

Dolly heard the first words only, and her 
sensitive nature detected a little derision in 
them, but she bravely locked the organ, and 
followed Dick and his burden down stairs. 
Out in the air and light she forgot herself, 
and once more asked for Dick’s mother. 

“ When did you see her last ? I think 
it must.be ten years since last summer.” 

“ Really ? ” said Dick; “ why the time runs 
away with us.” 

“ You forget that Bertie, papa, and I, are 
alone here.” 

“ Three people alone; quite a mistake 
I assure you. Let me see, when did I see 
my beloved mother last?” Bertie was now 
walking by Dick’s side ; the latter deliber¬ 
ately drew out his watch and gazed at 
it. 

“Let me.see; five minutes for the walk, 
five minutes for tumbling up-sfairs, ten at 
the weeping scene, and ten more greeting 
your friends. Yes, I am right; it is about 


54 


Doctor Dick . 


thirty-five minutes in all, Miss Dolly, since I 
left my mother sitting on the sofa in your 
library, and — ” 

“ Oh Dick, how could you ? ” exclaimed 
Dolly, as she darted away up the street, 
leaving Bertie and his companion far be¬ 
hind. 

“ Richard, you’re a fool! was Dick’s com¬ 
ment as he saw her disappearing around the 
corner. “ Now for your blundering you 
will miss seeing her when she greets your 
mother, a little picture you have thought 
of several times.” 

“Hasn’t Dolly grown pretty, Dick?” 
asked Bertie, as he looked confidingly in 
his friend’s face. 

“Very,” answered Dick shortly. 

“ Mr. Upshur who sings in the choir says 
she is the prettiest girl in Washington or 
Georgetown.” 

“ Fool,” muttered Dick, “ did he tell 
her so ? ” 

“ No, he only said so to the short man 


Lifted Up Above the Clouds . 55 

\ 

who sings bass. Mr. Upshur is the tenor, 
you know ? ” 

“No, I didn’t know; wonder if I shall be 
permitted to attend the choir meeting this 
evening? ” 

O 

“ Course you will. Dolly makes Smith 
come home with her now, but pretty soon 
I’ll be big enough and then she won’t need 
him. Dolly says she misses you boys, 
dreadfully.” 

“ Poor girl, she must,” said Dick, freely 
showing his tenderness to the child, which 
he concealed in the presence of Dolly her¬ 
self. 

“ And Dick, would it be wrong for me 
to tell you something about Dolly.” 

“ Is it something she would not wish you 
to tell, shipmate ? ” 

“I don’t know Dick, only Uncle Doctor 
does not talk with us as much as he used 
to, he gets tired and goes to sleep all the 
evening, and Dolly cries ever so much all 
by herself.” 


Doctor Dick . 



“ That will all end pretty soon, Bertie 
dear; we won’t worry about it.” 

“ No Dick, everything seems easy when 
you and Reggie are here.” 

“ It will be easier for us all in a little 
while, Bertie. Has Cousin Dolly said any¬ 
thing about taking you to Boston, my 
boy ? ” 

“ No, not once. Can she, will she, dear, 
dear Dick ? ” 

“ Hush, here we are, and now we will see 
my mamma! ” 


CHAPTER VI. 


DICK MAKES A STUDY OF PLANTS AND HEARS 

SOME REMARKS. 


d Bertie entered the 
was not visible, and 
his mother, too, was absent, although her 
work-bag, a fanciful creation of Dolly’s, had 
fallen to the floor in her haste to leave. 
Dick was again disappointed. 

“ I know where they are,” said Bertie, 
“ they are in Dolly’s room; I’ll find them,” 
and away went the little fellow as fast as 
he could walk. 

Yes, they were in Dolly’s room, and Mrs. 
Miller was in Dolly’s low chair with the 
girl’s head in her lap. 



y^HEN Dick 

library Dolly 


57 


58 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Are you so glad to get me back again, 
my darling girl? ” asked Mrs. Miller as she 
stroked Dolly’s beautiful hair. 

“ So glad I must not speak,” said Dolly, 
“ or I shall cry again, and I don’t care to 
have Dick laughing at me as he did in 
the church.” 

“Just like him,” replied Dick’s mother, 
“but Dolly, dear, you really do not mind 
Dick’s teasing now. I think he made at 
least a dozen pictures of the meeting for 
my benefit during our journey, and I dare 
say not one of them was correct.” 

It was easy to talk with Mrs. Miller, she 
was so kind, gentle and thoughtful. Dolly 
could speak to her freely, and it was well 
she could, since her father was crowing re ti- 
cent and more occupied than formerly. 
Dolly described the meeting in the church, 
and laughed over it with Mrs. Miller’s hand 
in hers, and then the door opened softly and 
Bertie entered. 

“I knocked twice but you did not hear me 


Dick Makes a Study of Plants . 59 

cousin Dolly, you were so noisy,” he said. 

“ No, pet; come to dear Mrs. Miller, and 
help me tell her how happy we are to have 
her with us.” 

The boy nestled lovingdy in the lady’s arms 
and said, “ Now cousin Dolly will laugh 
and sing again, so I am glad you came.” 

“ I will be good, I will be good, only let 
me come in! ” shouted Dick in the hall. 

“ Come in, then,” said his mother, “ but ban¬ 
ishment will soon be your portion, for you 
remember we ladies must dress for dinner.” 

“ I will go in the twinkling of an eye,” said 
Dick, looking all around to note any 
changes which had taken place, “ if you will 
tell me what Dolly thinks of our conspiracy.” 

“ Yes dear, our cool imperturbable Doc¬ 
tor Dick is burning with curiosity. What 
does your papa say to our plan ? ” 

“Conspiracy! plan?” questioned Dolly, 
looking from one to the other. 

“ Is it possible that your papa has not giv¬ 
en you the letters ? ” asked Mrs. Miller. 


6o 


Doctor Dick . 


“ You are talking in riddles,’ 1 said Dolly ; 
“ but there is the carriage now; Dick, I won¬ 
der if you remember the old way of helping 
papa into the house ? ” 

Dick ran down stairs and speedily rolled 
the Doctor’s chair to the door, then with the 
assistance of Doctor Baxter the invalid was 
moved before he had time to express his sur¬ 
prise at seeing his favorite. 

Once within doors, smiles brightened his 
handsome face and he exclaimed : “ Dick, 
my boy, this is better than dinner; does 
Dolly know ? ” 

“ Yes, sir, Dolly knows, and she is closeted 
with my mother; you see we feared that our 
letter might not do all the work and we de¬ 
termined to capture you.” 

The Doctor looked astonished. “ We 
have not had our usual letters this week 
Dick, and I was feeling a little anxious.” 

“ Not had your letters ! Why we sent a 
bundle of them to say nothing of the one 
your good friend, Doctor H-wrote be- 



Dick Makes a Study of Plants . 61 

i 

fore our plans were quite complete. Who 
brings your mail now Doctor ? ” 

“ Smith usually; if you will ring my bell 
Dick, we will look into this matter.” 

Smith was called and stoutly maintained 
that he knew nothing of the missing letters. 

“ Go to the office at once,” said the Doctor, 
“ and bring me the contents of my box; stay, 
you may take a note to our postmaster—some 
important documents of mine should have 
reached me several days since.” 

In a short time Smith returned with a pa¬ 
per or two and no letters. 

“ You are sure you have not mislaid my 
mail,” said Doctor Warrington sternly, 
“ quite sure, Smith ? ” 

“ Yes, sir, I bring yer all there was, Mas- 
sa Doctor.” 

“No he did’nt, de good-for-nothin’ limb o’ 
Satan, no he didn’t,” said Aunt Axy, who now 
appeared wiping her hands on her large 
apron. “ I’se jus’ found out ’bout it; ye see 
I was so busy gettin’ de ducks ready for din- 


62 


Doctor Dick . 


ner,I didn’t min’ much what was goin’ on 
till Massa Dick he com jus’ now and ’quired 
’bout things. Ye see Massa Doctor and 
Massa Dick, dis yere good-for-nothin’ was 
overcome he was, and he come home singin’ 
and bawlin’ with a soldier leadin’ him an’ I 
jus’ said you and Miss Dolly shouldn’t be fret¬ 
ted by him, so I toted him to bed. He had 
on his outside coat an’ I hung it up and jes 
now when Massa Dick spoke I dumb up 
stairs and got dat are coat, an’ in de pocket 
was dese yere mails, all on em.” Aunt Axy 
produced from her own capacious pocket the 
missing letters. 

“ Dere dey is, Massa Doctor, an’ if I was 
’lowed to speak he’d nebber bring no more 
mail to dis yere house, nebber.” 

“ Thank you, Axy. Smith, you may go 
now; I will speak with you later in the even¬ 
ing ; and now my dear Dick let me have a 
good look at you and tell me all about my 
boys. Bless them, I find it hard work to gej: 
on without them.” 


Dick Makes a Study of Plants . 6 j 

“ Do you, Doctor? that is good,” said Dick, 
as he deftly arranged the chair in a comfort¬ 
able position. “ There how is that, comfort¬ 
able now ? ” 

“Very, boy; I fancied I was tired but the 
sight of your face rests me. Where is my 
little woman who never fails to meet me ? ” 

“ Here papa. I thought Dick would feel 
more at home if I gave him something to do ; 
and it is such a treat to have Mrs. Miller 
once more.” 

“ Mrs. Miller too ! We are fortunate in¬ 
deed ; I hope your commissary department 
is in good order — little woman, we must do 
honor to such welcome guests.” 

“ Indeed we will papa, and Doctor Miller 
himself will soon be here for a brief stay. 
Won’t it be charming to have them once more 
with us ? Dick, please be considerate and 
keep all your talk about our boys until we 
are together at table; you see papa has a 
ponderous mail to-night, and while he reads 
it you can tell me about the conspiracy, all 


6 Doctor Dick. 

that your mother has left to be told.” 

“All right, I am under marching orders 
Doctor, but I promise you cousin Dolly 
that your papa will learn more of the con¬ 
spiracy from the ponderous mail than you 
are likely to hear before dinner.” 

“Then I shall go out and assist Aunt Axy. 
You know my time is limited; at eight o’clock 
I must be in my organ seat. Good-bye un¬ 
til the bell rings.” 

Dick waved his hand as she disappeared, 
thinking not of the dinner or the choir but 
of the sensation she would create in old 
Cambridge. 

His restlessness mastered him in a few 
moments, and as the Doctor was still ab¬ 
sorbed in his reading and his mother was up 
stairs dressing, he stole softly across the hall 
and examined the dining room, fully intend¬ 
ing to remain there until it was time to assist 
the Doctor. A few changes had been made, 
some of Dolly’s views of the sea were 
framed and hung about, and the bay window 


Dick Makes a Study of Plants . 


was bright with the young girl’s plants. 

“What a little bower it is,” exclaimed 
Dick. “I declare Dolly would brighten up a 
shanty and put more into it than some fine 
ladies ever get in their elegant mansions.” 

Dick entered the little alcove and began a 
botanical examination, running over the 
names of the collection and admiring their 
arrangement; while he was hidden from 
sight Dolly entered with some dishes for the 
table ; her pretty dinner dress with its trim¬ 
mings of pale blue, was just visible above 
and below the huge cooking apron which 
she wore. 

“Dick must sit here to-night next papa, 
and I will take Bertie under my wing.” 

“ Massa Dick has growecl powerful, Miss 
Dolly and hansum too,” said Aunt Axy, as 
she trotted in to deposit a side dish. 

“ Yes,” said Dolly absently, while the 
wicked listener was longing to hear more. 

“ I’se ’mazin’ glad dey come honey; it ’ill 
chirk you up so. Seems like you ain’t 


66 


Doctor Dick . 


seemed so happy sence de boys left us.” 

“ I hope I haven’t been stupid and dull,” 
said Dolly, standing back to get a better 
view of her table. 

Law bless ye no honey; only quiet like, 
an’ too old for a young lady. Is ye all 
ready now, Miss Dolly ? ” 

“Yes, Axy; no, let me see, I think I 
will put Mrs. Miller here. I must have 
her where I can see her sweet face every 
moment. Now Axy, we are all right, and 
even the fastidious Doctor Dick cannot 
find anything to sneer at or make fun of 
. about our modest table.” 

“ I never sneered at anything you did 
in my life,” said the accused, suddenly ap¬ 
pearing under the vine-covered arch. 

“ Listeners never hear, etc.,” said Dolly, 
putting her hands together. 

“ I was not intending to listen ; you com¬ 
pelled me to, and now as you have charged 
me with another offence, I shall appeal to 
Aunt Axy. Did you ever hear me sneer 


Dick Makes a Study of Plants . 6j 


or find fault with your young mistress ? ” 

“ ’Deed I don’ remember, Massa Dick. 
Ye see, mos’ of de young men is upraisin’ 
her, an’ if you don’t, p’raps you don’t keer 
to. Miss Dolly knows best.” 

“ A poor referee for you, sir,” said Dolly, 
laughing. “ Now Axy, ring the bell, and 
Doctor Dick, have the kindness please, to 
assist papa. I am not a bit sorry you heard 
my little stab.” 

“ I’ll forgive it on one condition,” said 
Dick. 

“ Name it 

“ That you will let me attend the choir¬ 
meeting with you.” 

“ Won’t you carp and criticise and turn 
up your aristocratic nose ? ” 

“ By all the ghosts of my ancestors, 
no.” 

“ Then you may go, only you must tell 
me all you know about my dear Reggie 
and the rest as we walk.” 

“ Cool, upon my word. The young ladies. 


68 


Doctor Dick , 


in Boston are not in the habit of defining 
my topics of conversation.” 

“ No, I suppose not. The young ladies 
of Boston are too wise to make such a 
tremendous draft on your good nature.” 

Dick looked at her for a moment keenly. 
“ Upon my word, Cousin Dolly, I do be¬ 
lieve you are getting to be a fine young 
lady, and if you do there is more good 
material spoiled.” 

“ De dinner ’ill spile, Miss Dolly,” said 
Axy, putting her head in the half-open 
door. 

“ Doctor Richard Miller, vanish; no 
more fine speeches, I am hungry,” said 
Dolly, with a stamp of her little foot and 
eyes sparkling with fun. 


CHAPTER VII. 


DOLLY WRITES CORA A LETTER. 



“Cambridge, Mass., Nov. i8- 


'J\)W HAVE found you out, my dearest 
Cora. My boys have confessed all; 
and I am so happy here. It was impos¬ 
sible to send you a full account until this 
moment; my postals told you of our safe 
arrival, and now I must give you a ‘bill 
of particulars,’ as Dick says. 

“ Well, when the plan came upon me that 

Saturday night, I was dazed for a little 

while; the objections were mountain high, 

and yet all the while something said, ‘ go, 

go, go.’ Papa grew more cheerful every 

69 


70 


Doctor Dick , 


mile during the journey, and Mrs. Miller 
and Dick were jewels. We wanted nothing 
and all the arrangements were the same 
as we usually make when we flit for the 
summer, only this time we took good care 
to leave things in order, in case Col. 
Gresham, Col. Brentford, or any of our 
old friends should arrive. Some of our 
books we brought, and a few things papa 
cannot live without; but my lovely plants 
and pets were loaned until we return. 
When will it be ? When will the war cease, 
and our families be re-united ? I mustn’t 
moralize. I must write as hard as I can 
in order to tell you the news. 

“ Papa has the back parlor and a small 
room leading from it. The small room is 
his sleeping-room, and by day we have an 
elaborate sideboard in the large room which 
at night is suddenly transformed into a 
luxurious bed for yours truly. 

“ Already papa has six students under his 
care, and he enjoys it very much. Jack 


Dolly Writes Cora a Letter . 


7 1 


is one, of course. I say of course, because 
I suppose you know he is not very stu¬ 
dious. Nearly every evening the young 
gentlemen gather in our room to study, 
after which we roll back the folding dohrs, 
and have some music. Reggie plays the 
violin finely; it seems to speak for him 
sometimes, he is so silent and grave. I 
wish you would write to him Cora, your 
letters are so cheery and ‘ the Deacon ’ (the 
boys all call him ‘ the Deacon,’ now) never 
talks so well as on paper; and as I am 
here and can’t write, won’t you for me ? 
Just think how sad it is for him, cut off 
from friends and home, uncertain about his 
father or aunt, and very proud and sensitive. 
He seems like a dear kind brother to me, 
and I do want to make him happy if I can. 

“ Walter is in his glory here. Doctor H. 
(you know we always quarrel over his 
poems. I declare they are genuine poems 
still, however much you may insist that 
they are ‘ good verses,’) has taken a fancy 


I 2 


Doctor Dick . 


to our young inventor, and suggests send¬ 
ing him to the ‘ School of Technology.’ 
Papa thinks of doing so another year 

“ Chari and Ned are doing well. The 
latter still hankers for the sea, and I should 
not be surprised if he entered the Navy 
some day. Chari does not show any special 
fondness for anything unless it be for odd 
stones and specimens. 

“ Bertie, my precious baby, is growing so 
fast I shall lose him all too soon. It is 
such a trial for him to meet strangers, we 
have decided to let him recite at home for 
the present. Reggie has taken him in 
hand. 

“ The entire family are determined to make 
me indolent. I have no organ to play in 
church, no soldiers to visit; only a very 
little care. 

“ Miss Lucinda rules the house, and does 
it well. She has a young table-girl, Melissy, 
to assist her, and once more Aunt Axy has 
a ‘ good roun’ family ’ to cook for. 


Dolly Writes Cora a Letter ,. 


“ Every day I take a long walk in the 
fresh air, and this week I shall begin my 
music lessons, under a superior teacher of 
Doctor H.’s selection. This, with my paint¬ 
ing, and French and German will keep me 
busy and happy. I cannot begin to tell you 
how kind the young gentlemen are to me. I 
am sometimes afraid that I may become self¬ 
ish and exacting. I said so to papa the 
other day and the dear man replied — with 
one of his sweet smiles — ‘Never fear little 
woman, the spirit of meanness does not 
dwell in you.’ 

“ Only the other day I said ‘ they are to 
have the' Bohemian Girl in town, I wonder 
if it will be good ? ’ Harvard Budd hap¬ 
pened to be somewhere within hearing, and 
before I knew it he had secured seats for us 
all, including his aunt and cousin lest I 
should feel embarrassed in the society of so 
many young men. Wasn’t he kind? His 
parents and sisters are still abroad, and he 
makes this house his home. Papa enjoys 


74 


Doctor Dick . 


him very much but I have not conquered 
my hatred of finikin young men. Dick 
dubbed him ‘ Budd, The Magnificent,’ and 
the name sticks, as nicknames seem to here. 

“Almost Thanksgiving, and you will prob¬ 
ably spend it in New York, or will you go 
on to Philadelphia? Jack thinks he will 
remain here, and Miss Lucinda promises 
him a o-enuine Yankee Thanksgiving if he 
does. I am to make one of my famous 
plum puddings and some cake; all other 
preparations fall on the busy trio in the 
basement. 

“ There is one thing which I insist on 
doing, and that is, mending for our boys; 
you have no idea how much time it takes, 
and Dick is simply terrible in this respect. 
I accused him of borrowing gloves for me 
to mend, but Reggie says, ‘ No, Dick’s rest¬ 
lessness crops out at the ends of his fingers, 
if his tongue is restrained.’ He is a wide 
awake, progressive young American without 
doubt. 


Dolly Writes Cora a Letter . 75 

“ Never were two devoted friends more 
unlike. ‘ The Deacon ’ is fond of quiet 
hours absorbed in his books, and, as 
you know, bashful enough to make him¬ 
self uncomfortable; he needs some one 
to draw out his best thought, some one to 
drive away his blues, and yet he is so patient 
under his troubles, so faithful to every little 
duty, so thoughtful for papa, and so kind to 
every one, no one could help loving Regi¬ 
nald Gresham. 

“ It is quite ti study to contrast the differ¬ 
ent temperaments and peculiarities of ‘ our 
boys.’ 

“ Harvard Budd still takes his meals here 
and is counted in, as Dick says, and Jack is 
one of us ; he told me yesterday that home 
was the best place for him, he was forever 
getting into scrapes when he ventured far 
away. 

“Bertie enjoys himself amazingly; Jo- 
siah’s boy is neither handsome or brill¬ 
iant, only stupidly good; but we find him 


76 


Doctor Dick . 


quite a help to Bertie when the boys are 
busy. 

“ There is a large laundry in the base¬ 
ment, where we permit them to sail boats in 
the tubs, and play wild Indians ; it is aston¬ 
ishing to see our pensive, delicate Bertie 
growing into a lad whose chief delight is 
warlike plays. Papa says he has known 
only war and tumult since he could remem¬ 
ber anything. He talks less of his dead 
mother now although I try to keep her face 
constantly before him; and as to poor Mrs. 
Neville, I am so sorry for her, I try every ex¬ 
pedient to have her remembered by him. 
Dick said the other day that it would be a 
very hard thing for Bertie to be taken from 
me now, and I am sure it would, for he 
clings to me more and more. 

“ He even thinks I am beautiful, and grew 
quite furious when Ned said a Miss Huntley 
who called here was the prettiest girl he 
ever saw. 

“‘She is not,’ said poor Bertie, ‘she is not, 


Dolly Writes Cora a Letter .. 77 

and you’re a naughty, wicked boy. Cousin 
Dolly is the bewtifullest girl in the whole 
world.’ 

“ I thought you admired Miss Cora, said 
Ned teasing him a bit. 

“ ‘ I do, too; Miss Cora is nice and pretty 
next to Cousin Dolly.’ 

“ ‘ You would be an ungrateful boy if you 
did not think Cousin Dolly the bewtifullest 
girl in the world,’said Dick. 

“ ‘ I ain’t ongrateful, and she is, and Har¬ 
vard Budd said so too, coz I asked him/ said 
my baby nearly ready to cry. Fancy the 
situation, my dear Cora, when in walked 
Harvard Budd, and before we could stop 
him, Bertie ran toward him almost scream¬ 
ing, * Didn’t you, Mr. Budd, didn’t you say 
our Cousin Dolly was the bewtifullest girl 
in the world ? ’ 

“ Cora, my dear, it is a pity that our house 
is a strong one; I wanted to go down through 
the floor or out at the window, or anywhere 
in the wide world out of sight. Mr. Budd 


78 


Doctor Dick. 


colored too, and that provoking Dick Miller 
rubbed his hands in delight. 

“ Harvard Budd showed himself a gentle¬ 
man ; he never even looked at me, but took 
Bertie in his arms and said quietly, ‘ I think 
it will be quite wise and safe to agree with 
you Bertie, in any praise which your kind 
little heart leads you to utter concerning 
your devoted friend; but you must not re¬ 
peat all our words in public, otherwise you 
will be running over to Professor Browns to 
tell him that Doctor Dick called him ‘a 
mutton head ’ the other day.’ 

“Wasn’t it neatly done? Bertie was sat¬ 
isfied, and Dick punished as he deserved to 
be, and I had courage enough to explain 
the outburst. Dick, you must know, is a 
great admirer of Marion Huntley; she is 
one of the Professor’s daughters, is very 
accomplished, and I think quite handsome, 
although Reggie insists upon it that she is 
affected in speech and manner. Dr. H. 
brought her to see me, and I returned the 


Dolly Writes Cora a Letter . 


79 


visit. She is very much interested in the 
Union soldiers ; her brother, a married man 
much older than Marion, is in the Mass. 
23d Reg., and of course we find plenty to 
talk about. Dr. H., must have chattered 
concerning us, for she wished to know all 
about the Hospital Club, and has invited me 
to a young woman’s circle, where every one 
works for the Sanitary Commission. We 
do not hear a word concerning Colonel 
Gresham — is it not sad ? Mrs. Neville is 
better, and will return to America as soon 
as the war is over, although her friends 
write that she will never again be strong or 
quite herself. 

“ Now, my dear Cora, you know all about 
us;' we are as usual a happy, busy house¬ 
hold, and I think it was wise for us to come 
here. Write us about yourself; Jack com¬ 
plains because you write so seldom; don’t 
neglect him Cora dear. I think we girls 
have more influence over our friends and 
relatives than most people give us credit for; 


8o 


Doctor Dick . 


even our harum-scarum Dick says that my 
letters have helped him, and Jack is — well, 
he is too generous for his own good; you 
know it as well as I, and perhaps we can 
strengthen the weak points in his character; 
he is so kind, and so honest about his faults, 
I do not think it will be a hard task. 

“ Time for my music lesson and I must 
run, 

“ Your faithful 


“ Dolly Warrington.” 




CHAPTER VIII. 



MISS LUCINDA IIAS AN ADVENTURE. 


AM pestered near about to death 
with that grocer man,” said Miss Lu¬ 
cinda, one day, to Dolly, when the latter was 
in the kitchen making a birthday cake for 
Reggie. “That frosting sugar was put down 
on his book, for I saw him do it with my 
own eyes, and here he has brought us every 
blessed thing but just that. I must say, 
men are tejus.” 

Miss Lucinda uttered her words in a 
calm, deliberate fashion; not at all after 
the usual manner of scolding women ; and 
yet she was much vexed by the frequent 
blunders of the boy who took orders daily 
at the kitchen door. 

81 








82 Doctor Dick . 

“Never mind,” said Dolly, cheerfully, “ I 
need not frost it until to-morrow, you know, 
and indeed, I like it better when it is quite 
fresh.” Miss Lucinda looked at her and 
smiled. “ Miss Dolly,” said she, “ you do grow 
a sight like your pa, taking things cool-like 
and all that. I don’t believe it’s more than 
two hours since I heard you say you wanted 
to get the cake all done to-day, for you and 
the boys were going out to buy some flowers 
in the morning.” 

“ Time enough,” said Dolly, beating away 
as she replied, “ but don’t you see, we can 
order our flowers this evening and Reggie 
will not suspect us, we so often take a little 
run to the square.” 

“ And if you wouldn’t mind, I might go 
with you and speak to that man myself and 
we could save a good two hours of time if 
Siah junior went along to bring the sugar 
home.” 

“ Nothing could be better,” Dolly de¬ 
clared, for a little after-dark trip was the 


Miss Lucinda, Has an Adventure . 

thing of all others she liked .best, unless it 
might be, a good tramp with the rain pelt¬ 
ing down. 

It was Friday, and the following day 
would be a general holiday with the boys at 
the Annex ; it would also be the birthday of 
Reggie, and Dolly had secretly planned a 
little celebration. Charlie, Ned and Walter 
were all consulted, but the “ young gentle¬ 
men,” as Miss Lucinda called the college 
boys were left in ignorance, partly to in¬ 
crease the fun, partly for the sake of teasing 
Dick, who was so fond of teasing others. 

In this emergency Marion Huntley proved 
an admirable aid. The flowers were to be 
her care until the proper time arrived for 
displaying, and sundry mysterious packages 
had already found a resting place on Miss 
Marion’s piano. Both girls enjoyed the fun 
of preparation, and even Professor Huntley 
entered into the plan with boyish zeal, after 
hearing from his daughter an account of 
Mr. Reginald, which increased his regard 


84 Doctor Dick . 

for so studious and gentlemanly a pupil. 

Night came at last, although Chari de¬ 
clared it would never grow dark, and Walter 
was nervous lest Dick should mistrust 

“ Reggie, would you mind reading a little 
with papa?’’asked Dolly, when the late din¬ 
ner was over. “I am going out with Miss 
Lucinda and the boys for a short walk ? ” 

“ I will read with him with pleasure,” re¬ 
plied Reggie, “ and Jack will join me, I 
know.” 

“ Not without a promise of music when 
Miss Dolly returns,” said Jack. 

“ You shall have it, and I wish you would 
try that duett again to-night, we might soon 
play it passably,” said Dolly. Jack had re¬ 
cently developed a fondness for the violin, 
and Dolly, who was anxious to keep him 
from outside associates, encouraged it. Oc¬ 
casionally the young people gave a parlor 
concert with Doctor Warrington and his 
friend, Doctor H., as audience; the latter 
insisted on a larger assembly, and quietly 


Miss Lucinda Has an Adventure . 85 

informed Dolly that a few friends would call 
upon her some evening for a musical treat. 

Music in the family circle has kept many 
a young man from low associates and vice. 
Doctor Warrington encouraged it in every 
possible manner; Reggie, as we know, 
played the violin, Dick showed a fondness 
for the flute, Chari, during his recovery 
from illness had learned the zither, Walter 
mastered the cornet admirably for one so 
young, and since the advent of the soldiers 
little Bertie had learned to handle the drum¬ 
sticks like a veteran. For many months 
Ned protested that he had neither ear or 
taste, but at last surprised himself by per¬ 
forming wonderful tricks with a whistle. 
Doctor H. often declared that the “Annex 
Band ” surpassed many a much praised 
travelling troupe, and he it was who coaxed 
Marion Huntley to join them with her fine 
soprano voice. 

Under such circumstances Jack might 
well resign himself to an evening’s practice. 


86 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Where is Dick ? ” asked Dolly, as she 
put on her gloves, after arranging every¬ 
thing for her father’s comfort. 

“ He ran up stairs I think,” answered 
Reggie. 

Come boys, we will go,” said Dolly, se¬ 
cretly glad that her tormenter was not at 
hand with a series of questions. Miss Lu¬ 
cinda and “ Siah Junior,” as her nephew 
was invariably called, were quite ready, and 
our young friends set out. 

“You might step into the florist’s Miss 
Dolly, while I go on to the store,” said Miss 
Lucinda, “ and then if you get through first 
you can come after us, or if we get through 
we will just walk down and meet you ; Siah 
junior has got the basket and it won’t take 
us very long.” Dolly and her boys con¬ 
sented, although Siah junior sighed and 
wished he could see the inside of a green 
house in Cambridge, in order to compare it 
with those near his old home. Neither 
Dolly or his aunt could read his thoughts, 


Miss Lucinda Has an Adventure . 8 7 

however, and the boy trudged on after his 
corpulent relative. 

There is something fascinating about a 
green-house, even to those who are ignorant 
of the names or habits of the plants, and 
our little party were not wholly so. Dolly had 
been well trained by her father in this respect 
and ..the boys had not quite forgotten the beau¬ 
tiful conservatory at their home in Richmond. 

A genuine lover of plants is the gardener’s 
best friend, and although the good German 
florist had never seen the young lady or her 
attendants before, he became interested at 
once when he saw her pass from flower to 
flower expressing her delight at meeting old 
favorites. 

He conducted her to room after room, ex¬ 
plained the habits of some rare tropical 
specimens which he had recently received, 
and then, with a gallantry quite usual with 
his countrymen, he presented her with a 
fine bouquet, after telling her that her order 
should be faithfully attended to. 


88 


Doctor Dick . 


How long our little party might have re¬ 
mained in that damp, close and almost 
intoxicating atmosphere it is impossible to 
say, had not an unmistakable cry for help 
reached their ears. The gardener, his as¬ 
sistant, Miss Dolly, and the boys, all hurried 
out as rapidly as possible, and ran quickly 
to the little walk which led to the street. 
Here they saw Miss Lucinda panting and 
puffing, while she clung closely to the long 
market basket, and Siah junior stood near 
by with dilated eyes. 

“ Oh, Miss Dolly, Miss Dolly.” 

“What is it? Are you hurt? Tell us,” 
eagerly questioned Dolly. 

Miss Lucinda was, as we have before 
stated, a portly personage, and somewhat 
afflicted with asthma; on this occasion her 
indignation combined with her natural diffi¬ 
culties nearly deprived her of speech. She 
rallied, however, when Ned brought her a 
glass of water from the greenhouse and 


Miss Lucinda Has an Adventure . 

♦ 

although she still clung to the fence for sup¬ 
port she managed to say : 

“All your frosting sugar, Miss Dolly; 
every mite and speck! ” 

“ Stolen ? ” asked Dolly. 

“ Stolen right out of this basket and me 
with it snug on my arm as you see it now ! ” 
“ Was it a man ? Did he touch you, or 
speak to you ? ” asked the gardener, eager 
to secure information and inform the police, 
if such an officer could be found. 

“Yes, it was a man,” said Miss Lucinda 
“ and there was four pounds of it.” 

“ I see him plain as could be,” said Siah 
junior. “He was awful tall and had on a 
high hat, and he walked right close up along¬ 
side, and aunty didn’t see him first.” Siah 
junior began to consider himself an impor¬ 
tant member of the human family. 

“ He was quicker than a flash,” said Miss 
Lucinda dolefully. “And now I ’spose we 
must go back again, or Miss Dolly can’t 
get her cake done in time.” 


90 


Doctor Dick , 


Miss Lucinda recovered speedily, and 
good-naturedly offered to return and secure 
more sugar, a proceeding Dolly at once 
objected to. 

“ Indeed, you must not,” said she ; “ you 
are already tired and we will walk home at 
once. My beautiful bouquet is worth more 
than the sugar, and Siah junior can easily 
purchase all we need in the morning.” 

Miss Lucinda did not like to give up. 
She had come out for the sole purpose of chid¬ 
ing the grocer and procuring the material for 
Miss Dolly’s cake. She was not willing to 
return without it. 

At last it was arranged to the satisfaction 
of all. The market-basket was given to 
Chari, and Miss Lucinda consented to 
trudge home with her nephew, while Dolly 
and her trio made a second visit to the 
grocer’s. 

No sooner had this been settled and the 
gardener returned to his greenhouse before 
a low and familiar whistle greeted the ears 



“ Bless your dear old heart! ” 


Pa^c 90 






























































































































































Miss Lucinda Has an Adventure . gi 

4 

of our young friends who had already taken 
a few steps toward the store. 

“ What’s that ? ” exclaimed Chari. 

“ Our whistle, sure enough,” said Ned. 

“ Answer it,” exclaimed Dolly. 

All the boys did so in concert, and to 
their amazement a man crossed the street 
and stood before them. 

“ Would you like some sugar? ” said a 
mocking voice. 

“ Oh Dick, how could you ? ” said Dolly. 
Whereupon the new comer raised the hat 
which had been partly pulled over his face, 
and all the party saw by the flare of the 
street-light, the handsome, laughing face of 
Dr. Dick. 


CHAPTER IX. 


THAT DREADFUL MAN. 



HEN Miss Lucinda Dodge reached 
her own establishment she went at 
once to the kitchen, and related her adven¬ 
ture to her faithful assistant. 

“ Lor bress ye,” said Aunt Axy, “ ye must 
n’t go out in de night, it ain’t no ways safe, 
and dese yere Norfern poor folks is mighty 
bad IVe heard ’em say down home.” 

“ Northern poor folks, indeed,” said Miss 
Lucinda with a scornful toss of her head, 
“ we ain’t called upon to steal in this part 
of the United States, and as to the thief 
why I dare say he was some tramp come up 
here on account of the war.” 


92 



That Dreadful Mail. 93 

“ Too bad he should sheer you so,” said 
Aunt Axy meekly. 

“’Twant a scare exactly, it was kind of 
flusterin’ though, and very mean to lose the 
sugar Miss Dolly was so anxious for.” 

Bertie as a special delight had been per¬ 
mitted to spend a short time with Aunt Axy 
in the kitchen, while Dolly was absent on 
her secret mission. The family had long 
since learned the importance of keeping cer¬ 
tain facts from the little fellow, for it was 
impossible to make him understand the art 
of concealment. 

Bertie’s propensity to tell tales out of 
school was marvellous. In his innocent 
fashion he repeated and reported various 
little speeches which frequently mortified 
the parties interested; while his powerful 
imagination led him to give each report a 
new coloring. His efforts to be strictly cor¬ 
rect in speech were quite amusing to the 

% 

boys who did not understand the conscien¬ 
tious struggle which the child was making. 


94 


Doctor Dick . 


Grown people are so often unjust to chil¬ 
dren in this respect; they do not tell the 
child where the fiction ends and the true 
story begins, and many a poor youngster has 
been whipped for telling a falsehood when 
evil thoughts were far from him. 

Dr. Warrington and Dolly soon discovered 
this trait in Bertie, and both were often 
amused when the little fellow would weave 
a dozen different stories concerning one sim¬ 
ple fact. A keen look from the Doctor, or 
a quiet word from Dolly would recall the 
little romancer, and he would say innocently, 
“ That’s the ‘ play story ’ Cousin Dolly,’ ” 
and his look of distress if he found himself 
again giving way to his imagination was 
almost pitiful to see. 

Dr. Warrington called it a dangerous gift 
if perverted, and he used every means in 
his power to aid the child. 

When Miss Lucinda returned, Bertie was 
making a fort on the kitchen table with 
muffin-rings, but the fort was soon forgotten 






























































































































That Dreadful Man . 


95 


as he listened to the story of the wicked man. 

“ He stole up soft and easy,” said Miss 
Lucinda. Bertie’s eyes opened wide. “ Siah 
junior, saw him first, and says, ‘ There’s a 
man coming, auntie.’ ” Bertie’s eyes opened 
wider. 

“ And he was taller than any man in our 
house,” said Siah junior. 

“ I couldn’t tell how short or tall he was,” 
said Miss Lucinda, “ but he came up and I 
thought he was going to pass when he put 
his hand on my shoulder, and it most scared 
the life out of me it was so sudden, and 
then I felt the basket give a little twitch, 
and that bundle of sugar, man and all was 
gone.” 

Bertie did not wait to hear any more, he 
sprang from his seat, ran through the hall, 
up the basement stairs, and rushed into the 
Doctor’s room where Reggie was reading 
aloud to his guardian, Jack Montgomery and 
Harvard Budd: 

“ Oh Uncle Doctor, oh Reggie, that 


Doctor Dick. 


96 

dreadful man ! ” he exclaimed, as he hid his 
face on the Doctor’s shoulder. 

“What is it, my boy?” said the Doctor 
cheerily. 

“ Speak out, Bertie, nothing can harm you 
here,” said Reggie, 

“ That dreadful man,” sobbed the child, 
“ he stole the things from Miss Lucinda’s 
basket, and I know he’s got my Dolly.” 

“ Got your Dolly! ” exclaimed the young 
men in a breath. 

“ Is Miss Dolly out, Doctor ? ” asked Har¬ 
vard Budd. 

“Yes, she went with the boys to do an 
errand or two. Come Bertie, my man, tell 
us the whole story,” said his guardian 
kindly. 

Bertie could only sob, “Oh Dolly, Dolly,’ 
and “that dreadful man.” 

The child’s quick fancy had seized upon 
the fact that Dolly did not return with Miss 
Lucinda and he was sure the thief was re¬ 
sponsible for it. 


That Dreadful Man . 


97 


“Don’t cry, Bertie,” said Jack, in bluff, 
hearty tones, “ that’s a duck; why no one 
could carry off Miss Dolly, she’s too smart 
for it, and then she has three big boys with 
herj why Chari, Walt and Ned would fight 
half a dozen men if they should dare to 
touch her.” 

Bertie looked up and tried to smile 
through his tears. Meantime Reginald, 
calm and considerate as usual, went down 
to the kitchen where he heard the facts as 
known to Miss Lucinda and her nephew, 
duly set forth. These he hastened to re¬ 
port, and the little group were making 
merry over the loss of the sugar when a 
latch-key rattled in the door, and the miss¬ 
ing young lady walked in with four attend¬ 
ants instead of three, Dr. Dick having a 
package under his arm. 

The whole story was simply told, and 
Bertie joined with the rest when they all 
laughed at Dick who pulled his soft hat 
over his eyes, turned up his coat-collar, and 


9 8 


Doctor Dick . 


really appeared to be “ taller than any man 
in the house.” 

Dr. Warrington was half-inclined to read 
Dick a solemn lecture on his thoughtless 
prank, but he decided to refrain when a few 
moments later the rogue appeared with Miss 
Lucinda on his arm, and said with a pro¬ 
found bow: 

“ Ladies and gentlemen, this good woman 
has forgiven that dreadful man, and prom¬ 
ises to spare him the shame of arrest; in 
fact, she thanks him for relieving her of 
such a sweet burden — and she quite agrees 
with me in thinking that Miss Dolly doesn’t 
know how to keep a secret.” 

“ There, there, Mr. Dick, ” said Miss 
Lucinda, giving him a good-natured little 
push, “ you said I was to come up and show 
the Doctor that I was all right; and if I 
was Miss Dolly I would just pay you off for 
your impudence.” 

* 

“ Go treacherous friend,” said Dick, with 
a majestic wave of his hand. “ Dr. War* 


That Dreadful Man . 


99 


rington, consider my extreme youth and 
spare me; Miss Dolly, pay me off or up 
if you can; we had a glorious walk, you 
have a lovely bouquet, and the sugar is safe. 
Bertie boy, come sit in my lap and tell 
me how you like the play of that Dreadful 
Man ? ” 

Bertie nestled in his arms and soon for¬ 
got all his troubles. 

Saturday evening came and with it Marion 
Huntley, her father and Dr. H —. Reggie 
received them, all unconscious of anything 
unusual in their visit, until later, when 
three or four of his classmates entered and 
brought with them an Encyclopedia he had 
long coveted. 

“ At last,” he said, “ I understand the 
mysterious ways of our family. Even my 
brother has puzzled me of late, and why 
Cousin Dolly should suddenly find so many 
errands out of hours I could not see.” 

Prof. Huntley seldom went out of his 
study in the evening, but Dr. H — was a 




100 


Doctor Dick. 


classmate of his brother’s, and he soon 
found Dr. Warrington also a classmate and 
most genial and accomplished companion. 
He brought with him a present in the form 
of a request that Mr. Reginald Gresham 
should assist him in arranging a new work 
for publication ; as this suggested a means of 
paying term bills and other expenses Reggie 
grew light-hearted and even jolly. Marion 
Huntley told her friend Dr. H— that 
“Young Gresham looked positively hand¬ 
some when he came out of his shell and 
talked like other people.” 

Happiness is a great beautifier. Reggie 
was indeed quite happy for the first 
time since the war broke out, and the chief 
source of his pleasure lay in an envelope 
which Dr. H — gave him early in the 
evening: 

“ Don’t tell me hereafter that a young 
lady cannot keep a secret,” said he. “ Miss 
Warrington has kept this securely locked 
up for three days at my request; I couldn’t 


IOI 


That Dreadful Man. 

think of a more delightful birthday gift,” 

It was indeed tidings from Col. Gresham, 
through a series of hands, it is true, but he 
still lived, was wounded in the right arm, 
could not write, send, or get away, and his 
old colored boy and faithful body-servant 
sent the message through the lines. 

“ Now,” said Reggie, “ I can breathe eas¬ 
ier, Doctor H —, and I don’t know where 
to begin with my thanks.” 

“ Dolly first,” said Bertie. “ Dolly’s the 
best, ’cause she made it all up alone, and 
she frosted the big cake.” 

Everybody laughed and Dick declared 
that Miss Dolly had bewitched the child. 

That night when pretty Marion Huntley 
had kissed Dolly good-night, and all the 
guests had gone away, Reggie sat down 
with Dolly and talked over the affairs of 
the evening. 

“To feel worthy of assisting so good a 
man as Professor Huntley is quite impos¬ 
sible ; but to know that I am to earn 


102 


Doctor Dick . 


money and study too, makes me as proud as 
a king.” 

“ True to your name, Reggie,” said Dolly 
laughing, “ and I am so glad for you. I 
don’t believe there ever was a girl with 
such a lovely houseful of brothers as I 
have.” 

“ And where in the wide world did lonely, 
forsaken, poverty-stricken rebels find such a 
cousin’ sister, and such a guardian ? ” asked 

Reggie. 

He was never demonstrative, but the 
evening had been full of supreme pleasure ; 
he was quite another being. Taking Dolly’s 
hands in his he kissed her, saying, “ Good¬ 
night, bravest of girls and truest of sisters. 
I shall never forget all you have done for 
me and mine.” 

“ Reg Gresham, are you ever coming up¬ 
stairs ? ” called Dick from the hall. 

“Yes, at once. Good-night, Doctor,” he 
said to his guardian who was leaning back 
in his chair, examining one of Reggie’s gifts. 


That Dreadful Man . 


IOJ 


“ Good-night, my son. Let \3 pray for 
other birthdays as pleasant as this has been. 
I am afraid I cannot give you up even to 
your father, Reggie, although I could sing 
for joy over our tidings.” 

“ And I feel too wide awake for sleep, 
although Dick is calling me to bed,” said 
Reggie. 

[Reggie had taken one flight of stairs 
before he realized that some one was calling 
him, and there in the half-darkness of the 
lower hall stood Aunt Axy. 

“ Hope you’ll not be ’fended Massa Reg¬ 
inald ; but you see dis yer kind o’ looked 
like you, an’ I didn’t keer to see it long of 
all de fine things, but it’s for you, that’s a 
true gempleman and never made a step 
of trouble to an old woman if she is brack.” 
Aunt Axy held out to him a little pencil- 
case of jet and gold. 

“ Oh, aunty, how handsome ! ” exclaimed 
Reg. “ It is too much for you to give, and 
it’s the very thing I wanted, too.” 


Doctor Dick. 


104 

Aunt Axy’s eyes sparkled with,pleasure. 

“ Did de coffee suit dis evenin’ ? ” she 
said, trying to hide her confusion. 

“It always suits when you make it,” said 
Reggie. “ Really, I must go back and show 
this to Miss Dolly.” 

“Ye needn’t mine, honey; she seed it 
fust. You see, she jes toted me over to de 
jeweller’s, and we bought him our own 
selves. Miss Dolly she jes knows all that’s 
agoing, Massa Reggie.” 

“ Gresham, why don’t you come on. 
How can .1 go to bed with all your presents 
about ? ” shouted Dick. 

“ Good-night, aunty; I am so happy I 
shall sleep late to-morrow. Your pretty 
gift shall be used every day. Good-night.” 

“Good-night, Massa Reggie.” 


CHAPTER X. 


*h 


A LETTER FROM MRS. MILLER. 

“ New York, Feb’y — 

DEAR DOLLY: 

“We are a roving people, we follow** 
ers of Uncle Sam. 

“ What do you think has happened ? 

Dr. Miller has again been ordered to Wash¬ 
ington and my aunt, has taken a fancy to 
go there, some one having convinced her 
that the climate is milder and better for 
her. 

“ Do you think your papa and yourself 
would or could allow us the use of the 
‘ Woodbox ’ for a few months. I cannot 
say how long we may desire it, but I prom- 



106 Doctor Dick . 

ise you it shall have good care, and I know 
it will be far better for my aunt and my 
husband than a boarding-house. If you are 
quite willing, write me at once, f The^ext 
house I own I shall mount on a locomotive 
and get Walter to arrange some patent 
trucks by which it can be run to any part 
of the habitable globe. Think of sitting in 
your sewing-room darning socks while you 
are whirled from New York to St. Louis. 
Seriously, I quite despair of settling down 
in genuine good order/’ 

A prompt reply was sent assuring Mrs. 
Miller that the “ Woodbox ” was entirely at 
her service, and a short enclosure from 
Dick stated his pleasure in the following 
terms: 

“ Good, sweetheart. I like it. You can 
rouse auntie and show her strange sights. 
You can visit-all your old friends and mine, 
too. The move is a wise one, and receives 
my approbation. Uncle Sam does a sen¬ 
sible thing now and then. Let him hurry 


A Letter from Mrs. Miller. io? 

up and put an end to this war if he desires 
further praise from Dick Miller.” 

The end \Vas nearer than Dick supposed, 
nvinter sped rapidly away bringing the 
mild days of April, a month never to be 
forgotten by loyal American boys and girls. 
Every day was crowded with events, 
although the people at the Capitol enjoyed 
their social pleasures, received and enter¬ 
tained as quietly as they had done when all 
was peace and prosperity. 

Mrs. Miller’s letters at this time were full 
of interest and much enjoyed by the family 
at the “ Annex.” 

“ To-morrow,” she once wrote, “ Mrs. 
Dana and myself are invited to pass the 
day at the Headquarters of the Reserve 
Corps near the Navy-yard. Dr. Miller will 
call for us at night.” 

A few days later a letter reached them 
headed — 

“ At Last ! Peace ! ” 

“ We went as I wrote you we should, 


io8 


Doctor Dick . 


Gen.-kindly sending an ambulance for us 

■— Mrs % Dana, little May and myself. We 
had a very pleasant, social time ; then came 
dinner when we all assembled in the cheer¬ 
less dining-room where faithful colored 
servants gave us excellent dishes, and we 
pretended not to miss our home surround¬ 
ings, although every other plate was cracked 
and our after-dinner coffee was served in 
mugs. While we were dining, Dr. S— re¬ 
marked that the latest news from the front 
was very cheering. 

“ ‘ Yes,’ responded another officer, ‘ I 
should not be surprised if Richmond was 
ours within a week.’ 

“ ‘ Nonsense !’replied an old veteran,‘an 
army cannot be handled like this wine¬ 
glass.’ 

“ Of course I .had devoured the latest 
printed despatches, but rumors said that 
the War Department had in its possession 
secret information. 

“ After much pleasant joking, although 



A Letter from Mrs . Miller. log 

we were serious enough at heart, the ladies 
agreed to entertain the gentlemen present 
with an oyster supper if Richmond was 
taken within a week. 

“ We left the table in great good humor, 
feeling quite sure that our purses were safe, 
and soon after went about the camp paying 
a visit to the hospital with the surgeons. 

“We had just returned to the officers’ 
quarters and seated ourselves in a comfort¬ 
able rocking-chair when Dr. — entered and 
said in a matter-of-fact tone, ‘ Ladies, we will 
take the oysters; Richmond is ours.’ Not 
one in the room believed him ; in fact he 
is noted for his practical jokes. 

“ ‘ It is too good to be true,’ said I, think¬ 
ing of Col. Gresham and our other friends. 

“ ‘ What will convince you of its truth ? ’ 
asked the Doctor. 

“‘Nothing less than an official despatch 
• duly signed,’ I said: ‘remember Doctor, 
we have been fed on bogus news for 
many months.’ 


II0 


Doctor Dick . 


¥ 

“ He left the room and soon returned 
with General —. anc [ several of the 

staff, and I then and there saw with my 
own eyes the glorious news. We did not 
know what to say or do. 

“‘We are to obey orders and fire a salute, 
ladies, and I trust we may see you at 
dress parade,’ said the general. 

“We remained of course, and witnessed 
it from an upper window. The men were 
drawn up in line as usual, and the for¬ 
malities of parade conducted with due 
decorum. Before dismissing: them general 

■Tz" 0 0 

order No.— was read, and although 
we could not hear it from our post of ob¬ 
servation, we appreciated its effect and knew 
its import. 

“ Never shall I forget the faces of those 
men as with one prolonged cheer they 
broke ranks, and the profound stillness of 
the camp-ground which preceded it. The 
cheer did I say ? They cheered until they 
were hoarse, caps were thrown into the 




Ill 


A Letter from Mrs. Miller. 

air, men hugged one another, and above 
all, the guns in and around Washington 
thundered and roared, and the smoke 
rolled up and up over the' city and the 
river. It was a scene which I frankly 
own surpasses my descriptive powers. The 
officers were fairly dumb with joy; the 
surgeons hurried away to the hospital to 
prevent any injury to their patients from 
undue excitement, but sick and well were 
alike rejoicing. 

“ One private who had not seen his family 
in three years, went deliberately to the top 
of a hill and shouted ‘ Glory, Hallelujah ’! 
until he was too hoarse to speak. Another 
actually tore his cap into shreds he was so 
excited; while others gathered in groups, 
and talked over the prospect of getting 
home or hearing from brothers, sisters or 
friends, in the confederacy. 

“ Doctor Miller came for us at a late 
hour. It was almost impossible, he said, 
to get away, the city was in such a state 


112 


Doctor Dick . 


of excitement, and we must hurry as fast as 
possible, for friends were waiting for us at 

MayorW-’s. We drove there and found 

a goodly company assembled, discussing the 
news. Of course a few were extremely 
anxious about friends in Richmond, but the 
majority gave themselves up to rejoicing, 
and about ten o’clock a band struck up be¬ 
fore our door the well-known strains of 
The Star Spangled Banner. 

“It was very late when we reached the 
‘ Woodbox,’ where aunt was anxiously await¬ 
ing our arrival, quite sure that the rebels 
had attacked Washington, although her 
maid had explained the situation to her. 

“ I shall write again in a day or two 
if I can find a moment. Meantime jot 
down in your book of events all you can 
concerning April, 1865. 

“Your faithful 

“ 4 Mother Miller.’ ” 



CHAPTER XI. 


president Lincoln’s death. 



? LL over the land the good news 
spread rapidly “ Richmond was ours ” 
and the war was virtually ended. 

President Lincoln visited Richmond at 
once although his friends considered it 
dangerous. No household in the land was 
more interested in the good tidings than 
that of our friends. The excitement all 
around had 'a double meaning to them, 
and yet they rejoiced heartily, and Regi¬ 
nald flung to the breeze the flag which Col. 
Brentford had given Dolly. 

Those who were fortunate enough to 


Doctor Dick. 


114 

be in Washington at that time, crowded 
a week of life into a day. Mrs. Miller 
was induced to leave the “ Woodbox ” for a 
few days and join some friends in Wash¬ 
ington. A great illumination was decided 
upon and her skill in decorating was well 
known. Doctor Miller was constantly at - 
the White House, and Aunt Follansbee 
consented to the absence of her niece 
until after the celebration. Everywhere 
ladies were busy buying red, white, and 
blue; officers were seen carrying boxes of 
candles, and tin candle-holders increased 
in value suddenly. In a large house on 
Louisiana Avenue several ladies were at 
work trimming flags with gay streamers. 
Our friend, Mrs. Miller, was one of the 
group. A servant entered saying: 

“ Can’t get a bit, ladies, deed I can’t, 

no one got no red an, blue but Massa-, 

an, lie’s Secesh wus kind.” 

“ What shall we do ? ” asked the ladies. 

“ Let us go in person,” said Mrs. Miller. 



President Line olds Death . 7/5 

The ladies found the store closed. 

“ Can’t get in dere, Missis,” called a 
friendly negro, “ he says dere ain’t a yard 
of his goods goin’ up for dis yere Union.” 

On their return, while the ladies are 
stating the case two officers enter. 

“ Do you mean-who keeps a store 

at 972 on the Avenue ? ” asked one of 
them. 

“Yes, the same,” replied the ladies. 

“ Bless me,” said the officer, “ he has 

/ 

narrowly escaped the Old Capitol Prison 
for attempting to run the blockade. Come 
on, Major, let us try a little authority.” 

It was not long before the gentlemen 
returned with the desired cambric. The 
cow r ardly trader feared confiscation and 
treated the officers with great respect; in 
fact, he made haste to avow himself a 
“ Union man.” 

Many laughable conversions occurred. 
One, in a newspaper office where the ladies 
went to secure the names of- Grant, Sheri- 



Doctor Dick. 


ti6 

dan, and Sherman, in large type. At first 
they were rudely refused ; but one of the 
ladies referred to the husband of her com¬ 
panion, a well-known officer and a friend 
of the President, whereupon the manager 
changed his tone and manner abruptly, and 
at once ordered the printing done. 

Mrs. Miller’s letters to the young people 
at this time were full of interest, indeed 
they \vere shared by many outside. Prof. 
Huntley and his daughter were always glad 
to hear Dolly or one of the boys say: “ We 
have had another letter from Washington.” 

Nothing escaped Mrs. Miller’s keen eyes. 
She had many friends in the various hos¬ 
pitals, and the poor wounded men mourned 
for her if she failed to make them a 
daily call, and yet she made time for 
social visits. Pier letter describing the 
death of President Lincoln we give entire 
for the benefit of our young readers, to 
whom the story of our terrible Civil War 
is little more than a dream. 


President Lincoln!s Death . 


i *7 


“ My Dear Ones : 

“Where shall I begin* my long story? 
Black darkness has followed our rejoicings, 
and you do not wish me to repeat the 
sad tidings. Even as I write I find it 
hard to believe that our beloved Presi¬ 
dent Lincoln was shot at half past ten 
on the evening of April 14th, at Ford’s 
Theatre. 

“ And it seems also difficult to think of 
J. Wilkes Booth as his murderer. Only 

j 

the other day we were calling on some 
friends at the National, and Booth came 
in. We were introduced when he made 
haste to say, ‘ I have had the honor of 
dancing with Mrs. Miller.’ I' recognized 
him then, although he looked dissipated, 
and I could not agree with my friends 
in calling him a very handsome man. 
When I saw him next — but I must not 
anticipate. 

“ On the evening of the illumination your 
father arranged everything for our comfort, 


Doctor Dick . 


118 

as his services were required at the White 
House. We lighted our own candles, took 
every precaution against fire, and about 
ten o’clock entered the carriage, taking 
with us the gallant Colonel B., whose one 
leg constantly reminded us of the horrors 
of war. The poor man had not left the 
house before, as the stump has caused him 
great pain and uneasiness. The officers 
in the house assisted him into the carriage, 
where he was supported with pillows. 
Surely he had earned the right to join 
in our rejoicing. By special request we 
drove at once to the White House, where 
Dr. Miller had preceded us. A small bit 
of paste-board gained us the desired per¬ 
mission to enter, and soon our carriage 
drove to the porch, where several officers 
joined us. The poor Colonel could not 
endure the pain of being moved more 
than was necessary, and although we 
were entreated to enter, we ‘received’ 
in the carriage. Nearly over our heads 


President Lincolns Death . 


ng 


stood Mr. Lincoln, addressing the crowd. 

“ ‘ How worn and tired he looks,’ said 
I to Senator -. 

“‘Yes, his Richmond trip did not make 
him look younger as some of our people 
said.’ 

“ ‘ Bless his great brave heart,’ ejaculated 
the Col., and just then a huge bouquet 
dropped on the Cob’s pillow. 

“ ‘ That is for you, sir,’ I said, handing 
it to him. 

“ ‘ Then I must be permitted to share 
it with you,’ said the Cob, and to gratify 
him we ladies added one rose-bud to 
our breast knots. 

“It was a gay scene. I shut my eyes 
and opened them again, in order to see 
more clearly. Everywhere, hundreds of 
lights were flashing, the famous Marine 
band was playing bewildering airs, and as 
the President ceased speaking, shouts of 
joy and pride filled the air. Even the 
horses seemed to enjoy it as the mounted 



120 


Doctor Dick. 


officers trotted them about the bonfires 
in the streets. A messenger came out 
urging us to join the Presidential party, 
but we all declined as we would not leave 
the Col., and Dr. Miller forbade his leaving 
the carriage until he returned to his room. 
The Government buildings were a blaze 
of glory, and nearly all the private resi¬ 
dences in the city were brilliantly illum¬ 
inated and decorated with bunting and 
mottoes. 

“ Our own decorations, which, thanks to 
the assistance of a young naval officer, 
were quite elaborate, seemed simple indeed 
as we rode about the city. 

“ Ladies in full evening dress appeared 
at the open windows and waved handker¬ 
chiefs at us as we passed, and the wounded 
Col.’s presence caused us to be literally 
pelted with bouquets. He was not known, 
but everywhere loyal hearts saw in him 
one of the suffering defenders of the Union. 

“ It was very late when we reached home, 


President Lincolns Death . 


121 


and the following day a headache was my 
portion. Then came the terrible tidings 
and all our joy was turned into mourning. 

“ Doctor Miller desired us to join the 
theatre party, as our good friend Mr. Colfax 
was intending to do so, but my head was 
rebellious, and I preferred a quiet evening 
at home. My husband was suddenly called 
for about half past ten, and left the room 
without speaking, thinking me asleep. He 
had just thrown down his pen when this 
summons came. A physician’s wife expects 
such visits, and consequently I was not 
alarmed until I heard some one say in the 
hall: ‘ Oh, it cannot be true, it cannot.’ 

Just then a servant entered to lower the 
gas and I said: 

“ ‘ Do you know who called the doctor 
out ? ’ 

“ ‘ The Surgeon General sent for him, 
Miss/ 

“ ‘ Why are people running about so, has 
anything happened ? ’ 


122 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Before she could reply Colonel B—’s 
wife ran in and threw herself on my bed, 
sobbing violently. 

“ ‘ Do tell me what it is,’ I said. * The 
Colonel has not — ’ I hesitated ; we had 
serious fears concerning his leg, as he had 
bled profusely several times. 

“ ‘ Oh, no, no, it is Mr. Lincoln. He was 
shot just now at Ford’s Theatre.’ 

“ ‘ By whom ? ’ 

“ ‘ J. Wilkes Booth ; and they say that 
the Sewards are all murdered, and the 
cabinet officers. Vice-President Johnson 
only escaped.’ I rose hastily and stag¬ 
gered into the dressing room, and had just 
succeeded in getting on a wrapper when 
a note came from my husband. He said : 

“ ‘ I am at Mr. Lincoln’s bedside ; he is 
evidently sinking; there is no hope. If 
you cannot ride to the Sewards’ send my 
servant up ; they are in sore trouble. Give 
him your own card or he will not be per¬ 
mitted to enter.’ 


President Lincolns Death . 123 

“ Yes, it was all true, and men and women 
wept like children. 

“ I was unable to leave the room that 
night, but messengers went and came con¬ 
stantly. Among other friends came Mr. 
S— who sat so near the stage he nearly 
struck the assassin with his cane. Doctor 
Miller wrote that Mrs. Lincoln’s cries were 
heart-rending. 

“At twenty-two minutes past seven our 
beloved President breathed his last, on the 

i 

morning of April 15th, 1865, and his mur¬ 
derer had escaped. 

“ Doctor M— says that the entire scene 
seems to him like a dreadful dream which 
he tries in vain to shake off. 

“ On the nineteenth the funeral ceremo¬ 
nies took place at the White House, after 
which thousands viewed the remains as 
they lay in the rotunda of the Capitol 

“ Colonel Baker and others immediately 
started in pursuit of Booth and his accom¬ 
plices. You-have heard the result through 


/ 2 ^ 


Doctor Dick . 


telegrams, but you do not know that it 
was my painful duty to try and recognize 
the body. You remember he was shot in 
the neck, and died in about four hours 
after being shot. There was of course 
great excitement, and numerous rumors 
about the city. 

“ One evening an officer said : ‘ There , 

is still some doubt about the man who was 
shot; some do not think it was Booth.’ 

‘“That is singular. His full brow and 
heavy moustache would make him marked 
even in death,’ I said. 

“To my surprise a few days after, Mrs. 

-and myself were requested to make 

a trip to an iron-clad in the harbor, and 
we must not mention the circumstance to 
others. We went, escorted by a surgeon 
or two, and when the gun-boat was reached 
we were led up on deck, where lay the 
body of a man covered with sail-cloth. 

“ Then we were asked ‘ if we could take 
oath that the man before us was J. Wilkes 



President Lincolns Death. 125 

Booth ? ’ It was impossible, the unshaven 
face, the closely cropped hair, the sharpened 
features, bore no resemblance to the man 
who only a few days before was smiling 
and chatting in the parlor at the National. 

Mrs.-could not identify him, and we 

turned away saddened as we thought of 
his gifts and prospects, and the horrible 
deed he had committed. The sail-cloth 
was again thrown over his face, and it is 
said that none can tell where President 
Lincoln’s murderer was buried. 

“ As we were requested to keep our ex¬ 
pedition secret, I now mention it when 
it is too late to trouble any one. 

“ During the progress of the funeral 
procession cannon were fired and bells 
tolled. To our great regret some large 
pieces were placed in Judiciary Square, and 
the excitement made by their noise and 
the death of the President caused some 
poor fellows in the hospital to bleed to 
death. We think it a great mistake, and 



126 


Doctor Dick . 


the faithful surgeons have had increased 
care and anxiety in consequence. Doctor 
D— sent in to us for extra assistance, and 
it was hard indeed to see the poor wounded 
men weeping like children. In the midst 
of all this grief and the booming of the 
guns, came little Hattie, the surgeon’s 
daughter, asking why we wept for dear 
good Mr. Lincoln when he had gone to 
heaven and was happy ? 

“ Why indeed, when we think of him 
and not of our country, and our personal 
loss? Yours ever faithfully, 

Mother Miller/’ 


CHAPTER XII. 


LEX AND BERTIE. 


HWOT long after the funeral ceremonies 
at Washington, Mrs. Miller returned 

£vyT'Cs? ^ 

to the little cottage in Georgetown where 
the invalid aunt had remained, under the 
kind care of a mutual friend. 

“ There has been a black fellow hanging 

O O 


round here for two or three days,” said 
the housekeeper, “ and he says ‘ he’s a friend 
ob de family.’ I sent him away about an 
hour since to the market, and I told him 
he would probably see you to-day.” 

“ Some of the doctor’s old friends, I 
presume,” said Mrs. Miller as she went to 


127 


128 


Doctor Dick . 


her aunt’s room, where it was necessary 
to repeat and report all that had occurred 
during her absence. She had nearly fin¬ 
ished telling for the third time how Mr. 1 
Lincoln looked and acted when she last 
saw him, when some one knocked at the door. 

Mrs. Miller opened it, and saw before 
her a tall negro lad with a set of very white 
teeth and enormous eyes. 

“ Don ye know me, Miss Miller, I is Lex, 

I is." 

“ Why Lex, how you have grown ! " 

“Yes Miss, I been gone a right smart 
spell, you see." 

“ Whom have you there, Mary ? Bring 
them in right away, you don’t consider the 
draft right across my feet,” said the invalid 
aunt," 

“All right, aunt; walk in, Lex. This 
is the boy who came from Richmond with 
the children so long ago; he was a short 
round-faced rogue then, now he is nearly 
as tall as Charlie Neville." 


4 



TfSf? 




ii 




| 

* i 

I tm 


ixl 

i-ajj 



u Stop twisting your thumbs, l>oy ! ” —Page 129. 










































































































Lex and Bertie . 


129 

“ Well, make him sit down, Mary, do; 
and stop twisting your thumbs, boy — it 
makes me nervous.” 

Lex took a seat and put one hand on 
each side of his chair. 

“ Now Lex,” said Mrs. Miller kindly, 
“ you must tell me when you left Colonel 
Brentford, and how you came to be in 
Washington.” 

“ Yes, and keep your feet still while 
you talk,” said the invalid who was secretly 
anxious to hear his story. 

Lex rolled his eyes about, looked up 
and down, and finally said : 

“ I specs Mass Kunnel is in de city ob 
Richmond now, Miss.” 

“ And why are you not with him, Lex?” 

“ Well, you see, Miss, I specs I run away 
a little too soon ; peared like dey was goin’ 
to have more flightin’ and General McIntosh’s 
boy was cornin’ Norf ’cause he wasn’t goin’ 
down Souf to be a slave agin, and so I 
come too.” 


Doctor Dick . 


130 

“ Didn’t you want to go on and find 
your old master, Lex ? ” 

“ No, Missis; ye see I saw some of our 
folks and dey said it’s mighty bad, awful 
poor times down thar, and I jis thought 
I’d come find the young gentlemen and 
the doctor. I .likes Doctor Warrenton 
mighty well, Miss.” 

“ Was Colonel Brentford well when you 
saw him last ? ” 

“ He ain’t nebber gwine to be well, Miss. 
Ye see he’s all shot up like; his arm is 
stiff, jes like dis yer chair, and he’s got 
two bullets in his foot. 

“ Poor fellow,” said Mrs. Miller, “ he 
has gone on bravely to the end.” 

“Dey calls him ‘Grit’ ’mong the men; 
spose you know what that means, Missis, 
I don’t eggactly know it myself.” 

“Yes, Lex, tell us why they gave him 
that name.” 

“Well, ye see, Miss, his arm was hurt 
and he nebber waited for it to get well, he 


Lex and Bertie . iji 

just went back as quick as ever he could, 
and then pretty soon we had another battle 
and his horse was shot under him, and de 
Kunel he jes’ took another one and went 
right on, and de second one was killed too, 
and he went on foot, and none of ’em 
knowed his foot was shot, and he was drag- 
gin’ it until it was all over, and de men all 
called him “ Grit;” dat is all I know, cept 
when he had to be in de tent and de doc¬ 
tors tole me not to leave him night nor 
day.” 

“ And where is that man now ? ” asked 
the aunt sharply. 

“Spec he is in Richmond, now Miss, I 
heard him say he should nebber rest till he 
found ole Massa and could tell him ’bout 
Massa Reg, and all of de friends up heah.” 

“ I hope he will come here,” said Mrs. 
Miller, “ before he goes West again ” “ I 

should think your hands were full enough of 
wounded folks now,” said the aunt tartly. 

“ Always room for such brave ones as 


132 


Doctor Dick . 


Colonel Brentford,” replied Mrs. Miller, 
pleasantly. 

Before Lex left the invalid’s room he 
had made a friend without knowing it. 

“ Well, Lex, what would you like to do?” 
asked Mrs. Miller. 

“ I should like to stay heah and work until 
my young gentlemen wants me,” said the boy, 
“ and den if Massa comes out all safe he’ll 

find me sure.” 

“ The doctor has a good boy now Lex, 
and I don’t know how our friends in Cam¬ 
bridge will feel about your coming there; I 
will talk with my husband, and see what he 
thinks about it.” 

That evening when Mrs. Miller had made 
her aunt comfortable for the night the old 
lady surprised her by saying abruptly — 
“ Mary, I want that boy.” 

“What boy,aunt, our Dick? ” 

“ Goodness gracious ! no. Do I want to 
upset all his plans ? of course not; I mean the 
darkey Lex. Why can’t I have him to wait 


Lex and Bertie. 


IS 3 




on me and roll my chair and do a hundred 
things I never can get done.” 

“ I try to do all that is possible, aunt dear,” 
said long suffering Mrs. Miller, “ and Sarah 
is very faithful.” 

“ Who said she wasn’t ? Who cares about 
that ? I want a servant of my own, and I 
have money enough to pay for it; I don’t ask 
any odds of you or your husband.” 

“ No aunt, we only want to make you 
comfortable and happy.” 

“ Comfortable and happy indeed ; that is 
just like you Mary, you were always unrea¬ 
sonable from a child.” 

“ Shall I tell Lex you would like to en- 
eacre him ? ” asked Mrs. Miller in her calm 
even tones but with a look in her eyes which 
sometimes made her son call her “ Mary the 
martyr.” 

“ Why of course; I don’t want the boy to 
work for nothing, and he must have some 
decent clothes too; I’ll warrant he will steal 
everything he can put his hands on. Do 


*34 


Doctor Dick. 


give me my powder Mary, you know I can’t 
sleep without it.” 

“You had your powder aunt a few mo¬ 
ments since; see, here is the paper.” The 
fretful old lady was convinced at last, -and 
consented to try and sleep. Mrs. Miller left 
her to arrange some domestic affairs. She 
had just reached the dining-room, when her 
aunt’s bell rang furiously. Mrs. Miller hur¬ 
ried back, well knowing that the presence of 
the servant would not be tolerated. “ Well, 
aunt,” she said on opening the door. 

“ Well, there’s no well about it ; that blind 
is slapping so I can't rest and I want to know 
what Dick wrote; I don’t know what I have 
done that I can’t hear the boys’ letters; he’s 
bad enough, and noisy enough, goodness 
knows, but one wants to know what one’s 
own flesh and blood are doincr ” 

O 

“You shall hear every letter aunt, you 
know your head ached when I proposed 
reading them.” 

Mrs. Miller drew from her pocket the 


Lex and Bertie. 


135 


latest bulletin from Doctor Dick,and began to 
read; her aunt interrupting every few moments. 

It was very vexatious, but Mrs. Miller 
endured the trial with great sweetness and 
patience. Dick wrote : 

“ My Precious Motherdy: The Annex 
and its inhabitants are in a salubrious con¬ 
dition. Reg says that is not proper — 
salubrious.” 

“ Of course it is not proper ” said the aunt, 
“ I do wish Richard could learn to talk and 
write simple English.” 

Mrs. Miller read on — “I mean well, I 
don’t know exactly what I mean, but we are 
all well. 

“We too, have tolled our bells, draped our 
buildings, and mourned for dear, honest old 
Abe. Bertie says, ‘Oh dear, he kissed me 
and told me to be good to my mother, and 
now he will see her in heaven and know all 
about it.’ Reg says little ; in fact, the ‘ Dea¬ 
con ’ is not a great talker, but I fancy he is 
thinking about his father; I don’t wonder — 


136 


Doctor Dick . 


just imagine how I should behave if it were 
my paternal ? Bless him. I wish we could 
have one of our old fencing matches.” 

“ Ridiculous stuff and nonsense,” said the 
aunt. The letter went on : 

“ Tell him I am getting up muscle every 
day, think I shall be called Hercules some 
time in the near future. Matters are getting 
on much as usual here. Dolly improves rap¬ 
idly in music, and we have some creditable 
home concerts. If I had a family of boys 
and girls — ” 

“ Well, I do think that boy is demented,” 
said the aunt. 

Mrs. Miller resumed reading : “ I should 

train every one to play some musical instru¬ 
ment ; it adds so much to home entertain¬ 
ments, and is such a rest when one is tired.” 

“ Fiddle dee dee! ” said the aunt. 

“ Sometimes when I get wrought up to the 
point of desperation over my books, I seize 
my flute, play a little, and then go back ready 
for hard work.” 


Lex and Bertie . 


*37 


“ Humph,” ejaculated Dick’s aunt. 

“We have had a little excitement since 
my last bulletin.” 

Sarah here tapped at the door to ask a 
question. 

“ Never mind now, never mind, she is 
reading me a letter Sarah, and you should 
manage your work better.” 

“ I only wished to ask Mrs. Miller if I 
should send the corn-bread down to the 
Hospital by the little boy Lex ? ” 

“ Of course you will Sarah, of course, he is 
my servant now and we must keep him busy.” 

Mrs. Miller smiled, but had not time to 
resume her reading before her aunt exclaimed 
in a fretful tone: 

“ Why don’t you go on Mary ? it is very 
aggravating to have you read over things to 
yourself! ” 

Poor little mother, even her dear boys,let¬ 
ters were stolen pleasures. 

“ We have had a little excitement.” 

“ Dear me, you read that before, Mary.” 


Doctor Dick. 


140 

Dolly liked a face in it, and while we were 
discussing its good and bad points Bertie 
slipped away.’ 

“ ‘ He has not wandered far’ I said,and as 
we walked along looking on every side I 
heard some one say in a half whisper, 
‘ Dick, oh Dick,’ and there was Dolly with 
her finger on her lips standing near the cor¬ 
ner of Hamilton Place, while she pointed to 
a little fisfure on the curb stone at the ex- 

o 

treme end of the court. It was Bertie. The 
Conservatory of Music as you know makes 
a solid wall there, and the boy attracted by 
the sounds had wandered down and seated 
himself to listen. Even the man at the cor¬ 
ner with the chestnut roaster was watching 
him. Cool as it was, he had removed his 
Scotch cap and sat with his eyes intently 
fastened on the grim walls whence the 
sounds came. He was very pale and his 
dark eyes sparkled with excitement; but I 
shall never forget the peculiar expression on 
his little face; half sadness, half joy. ‘ He 


Lex and Bertie. 


141 

is thinking of his mother, poor darling! ’ 
said Dolly. 

“ ‘ It is the face of an angel in one of those 
engravings papa has,’ said Marion. 

“ ‘ Wait, I will speak to him,’ said Dolly, ‘as 
soon as the song is finished, and Dick, please 
don’t scold him, he could not help it; the 
dreams will turn to something hard and prac¬ 
tical soon enough.’ I verily believe Dolly 
thinks I am a bear.” 

“ And no wonder,” said the petulant aunt, 
whose intense interest had kept her silent 
for some time. 

“We were amused to see the boy’s face 
when Dolly spoke to him. 

“ She said quietly, ‘ Come darling, I think 
we must go home now,’ when the child rose, 
put his hand in hers and came toward us 
with a smile. He was not surprised to 
see me, did not know he had been lost, and 
on the way home amused us all by saying 
that ‘ Boston was very nice, specially in the 
little street where the music was. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

“ COLONEL GRIT.” 

new noth- 
the party 

returned. Reg was inclined to reprove the 
boy for his carelessness, but the Doctor, 
with his usual kindness, urged him to 
overlook it lest the sensitive child should 
suffer from his visit to the city, which he 
had enjoyed so much. The Doctor how¬ 
ever had a quiet talk- with Bertie about 
lost children, and the little fellow was at 
last convinced that it was never prudent 
to forget himself in a strange place. 

In Washington the wheels of Govern- 



142 



“ Colonel Grit!' 


*43 


ment went on although the President was 
no more. Andrew Johnson, the former 
Vice President, was at the head of the 
Nation. In public life he was much 
abused, in private he was genial, kind, and 
very faithful to his.friends. One of his 
sons had attended school with Dr. Miller 
m early boyhood, and it was not unusual 
for the President to walk quietly in upon 
the family without “ nonsense or parade,” 
as the old aunt said. On one well-rs- 
membered occasion he sat on the steps 
with the family, chatting of home-life, of 
his dead wife and his invalid daughter, 
with a tenderness familiar only to those 
who knew him best. Suddenly he turned 
about facing his friends and said with 
twinkling eyes — “Don't be surprised if 
you see horrible accounts of my drunken¬ 
ness in the papers to-morrow.” 

“ Why, pray ? ” 

“ Oh the Doctor and I shocked the pro¬ 
prieties last night. You see he gave me 


*44 


Doctor Dick . 


a prescription for-and I thought I 

would like to take a quiet stroll, so I took 
his arm and went to the druggist’s and 
had the medicine put up; the bottle was 
large, and I refused to have it sent, so we 
walked the length of the avenue with the 
bottle under my arm, and I said with a 
chuckle: ‘ Now won’t the gossips afid 

slanderers find business brisk.’ ” 

His friends remonstrated with him for 
giving his bitter enemies an opportunity 
to charge him with indiscretion, but the 
President laughed good naturedly and said: 

“ I have a little of the boy in me yet,” 
and then added, “ and you know while I’m 
being abused some one else escapes.” 

True enough the story of the gross in¬ 
temperance of the President spread, and 
he was openly accused of being seen reel¬ 
ing down the avenue with a bottle of 
whiskey under his arm, while his friend, 

Doctor-, supported him. Thus do we 

make or mar history. 




“ Colonel Grit? 


*45 


This little incident reminded Mrs. 

Miller of another fact which she reported 
to her dear young friends at the “Annex.” 

“You have all seen,” she wrote, “the 
picture of Mr. Lincoln with Tad. I chanced 
to be in Brady’s Gallery that day, and saw 
Mr. Lincoln looking over the large album 
with which that artist amused his waiting 
patrons. The President conversed pleas¬ 

antly as usual, and called my attention to 
the picture of a prominent public man 
who ‘looked as if he were contemplating 
murder.’ Tad, a pet with us all, stood 

looking on, and the artist with a happy 
thought seized upon the pose as most favor¬ 
able to a good picture. I afterwards heard 
Mr. Lincoln say as he gave me a copy which 
I now prize highly, that he considered it 
the best he had ever had taken. 

“ All stories have an amusing side. 

Judge C-dined here the other day, and 

on seeing it said: ‘ I heard the superin¬ 

tendent of our Sunday School in New 



Doctor Dick . 


146 

England telling the boys about this,’ — he 
held up a copy — ‘ saying: ‘ We see 

the influence of a good father. Here sits 
our lamented chief magistrate reading the 
Bible to his little son.’ 

“ As I thought of our cozy talk at 
Bradys, I could not help laughing, although 
the great loss of our excellent and sincere 
friend is such a bitter thing to us and to 
the country. You see, my dears, that a 
‘ made up story ’ is not half as good as a 
true one. 

“ I am looking almost daily for some 
tidings from Col. Brentford. I am quite 
sure he will come here as soon as possible, 
and yet the poor man must feel anxious 
to see his mother and his Western home.” 

In two weeks after writing the above 
Mrs. Miller greeted the gentleman, and 
with him another pale, thin man with gray 
hair. 

Lex announced their arrival 

“ Dey has come, Miss Miller ; dey is here ; 


“ Colonel Grit" 

an’ Massa Kunnel say he ain’t got no 
kurds.” 

Mrs. Miller hurried down to the little 
library where Col. Brentford had first seen 
Dolly’s father. 

“ I am very glad,” she said extending 
both hands. “ I do not think we can give 
‘ Colonel Grit ’ a welcome quite warm enough 
after hearing an account of his brave deeds.” 

“ He will accept the welcome even with¬ 
out deserving it, Mrs. Miller,” said the 
gallant Colonel, ‘‘and now let me introduce 
my travelling companion, General Gresham 
of Richmond.” 

“ And you, too, shall have right cordial 
welcome,” said Mrs. Miller, feeling at once 
how painful it must be to appear as a 
conquered, foe in the house of his old 
friend, and knowing as women do know, 
how much harder it must be to bear defeat 
or success without the kindly sympathy 
of faithful friends. 

General Gresham looked prematurely 


Doctor Dick . 


148 

old, but his fine bearing and manner im¬ 
pressed Mrs. Miller even while she pitied 
him. 

“Your boys almost belong to me,” said 
she, “and as they call me ‘ Mother Miller’ 
I shall make haste to tell you that they 
are all well, and looking eagerly for the 
arrival of letters from Richmond.” 

“And I,” said the General, “feel like a 
wreck tossed and buffeted about. I shall 
not recognize my own remains until I 
have my children once more about me” 

“ What rejoicing there will be, and how 
much you will be obliged to rehearse for 
them, and the boys for you. I am selfish 
enough to desire a share in it.” 

“ Then you must hear my plan,” said 
Colonel Brentford. 

“ But permit me to say first,” said General 
Gresham, “ that my presence here is due 
to this gentleman. But for his kindness 
I could not see my children at present.” 

“ Let that pass, General. You see, Mrs. 


“ Colonel Grit.” 


149 


Miller, I was so much pleased with Reggie 
that I determined to find his father, and 
when I saw that my good fortune would 
take me not only on to Richmond, but 
into it, I determined to bring the young 
man a present, and I refused to leave 
Richmond until he came with me.” 

“ And I am sure we shall never cease 
to thank you; how I wish we might have 
our merry group all here. I miss them 
constantly.” 

“ Why can you not join us and visit 
Cambridge with us ? That was part of 
my plan, as I felt sure we would require 
your presence to make the rejoicing com¬ 
plete to Miss Warrington,” said Colonel 
Brentford. 

“ You are very kind, Colonel, but my 
aged aunt seldom permits me to leave her, 
and I have been a truant this season. I 
am hungry to see my boy and dear Dolly, 
to say nothing of the others and the good 
Doctor.” 


Doctor Dick . 


15 ° 

“ When your husband comes we must 
arrange it,” said the Colonel. “ It is quite 
folly to be riddled with bullets and then * 
come home to have one’s little plans for 
universal happiness upset by trifles. I 
shall make you my prisoner, Mrs. Miller, 
and with your permission will convince 
your aunt that it is important.” 

“You see the Colonel assumes the bear¬ 
ing of a conqueror,” said General Gres¬ 
ham. 

When Doctor Miller returned he was 
pleased and surprised to see his guests, 
and at once insisted that his wife should 
accompany the returned warriors to 
Boston. 

“ Aunt never exacts such service from 
any one else,” said he. “ She looks upon 
my wife as her particular property, and 
consequently when Mary is away Aunt 
has fewer wants and is quite tractable, 
with all due allowance for age and infirmi¬ 
ties. The old lady has been very anxious 


“ Colonel Grill' 


I 5 I 

to see you, Colonel, since Lex has enter¬ 
tained her with accounts of your deeds.” 

“ I am afraid he has drawn on his ima^- 
ination largely. It is a trick of the rogues, 
and I am surprised to find him so much 
pleased to see me since he calmly turned 
his back upon me and left for Washing¬ 
ton.” 

“ What did he say to you, General ? ” 
asked JDoctor Miller. 

“ His first remark was not seasoned with 
gratitude,” said the General smiling, “ he 
exclaimed, “I isn’t your boy no mo 
massa, kase we’s all free and I’s gwine 
to stay Norf where de money’s 'plenty.’ ” 

The gentlemen laughed merrily, while 
the object of their mirth appeared upon 
the scene, grinning with delight, “ Massa 
Doctor an all of ye, my Missis says as 
how you would please cum up to her 
room cause she’s in de chair now, and 
she wants to see de man with bullets in 
him and de Rebel General.” 


Doctor Dick . 


152 

“ Lex,” said Mrs. Miller reprovingly, 
“when you have messages to deliver I 
have told you to ask me to step out. 
Gentlemen, excuse me one moment, I dare 
say my aunt has sent her compliments 
and would like to see you. She seldom 
goes out, and her interest in the war has 
been very great.” 

“Yes,” said the Doctor, “the poor old 
lady has spent her money freely for sick 
and wounded soldiers, and it would afford 
her sincere pleasure to see you.” 

In a few moments the entire party were 
seated in the invalids room, where she 
greeted them quietly, and was so gentle 
in her manner that Mrs. Miller wondered 
if it were not possible for her to over¬ 
come her usual petulance. 

Colonel Brentford related stories to her 
intense delight, and General Gresham 
promised her an entire set of views of 
Richmond during the war. Mrs. Miller 
had ‘thought it impossible for her to leave 


“ Colonel Grit? 


*53 


home, but the gallant Colonel laid seige 
to the old lady’s heart when he repre¬ 
sented his pleasure in looking forward to 
the Boston visit, and knew it would all 
be spoiled if Mrs. Miller did not join 
them. 

“ She can go as well as not,” said the 
old lady. “ Lex is quite handy now, and 
I suppose you won’t keep her long.” 

“ No, indeed,” replied the Colonel, “ I 
have business here in Washington in a 
week, and I will promise to return her 
safely with a budget of pleasant things 
to tell you.” 

Thus the brave soldier showed his skill 
in winning victories, for, had Mrs. Miller 
proposed it, the aunt’s objections would 
have been innumerable. Doctor Miller 
knew only too well that his dear wife suf¬ 
fered from the needless exactions of his 
relative, and he urged her departure with 
zeal, promising the invalid several treats 
during her absence. 


Doctor Dick . 


*54 

While the preparations were going on 
in the old lady’s room, Lex, the ungrateful 
and unreasonable, was turning somersaults 
in the hall, saying to himself: “Won’t I 
plague de old one good when de young 
missis is gone, and won’t she jis give me 
heeps of money to buy taffy.” Army life 
had not improved Lex. He was fond of 
Mrs. Miller and afraid of the Doctor, but 
his woolly head was full of mischief if 
not downright wickedness. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


JOY BELLS AT “ THE ANNEX.” 



d\)M MAILED my usual letter to the 
Annex this morning,” said Mrs. 
Miller, “and I think it would be quite nice 
to surprise our friends there.” 

“ Capital,” said the Colonel, “ I should 
like to know if the stories the General 
has been telling me are quite correct, eh 
General ? Suppose we try the boys and 
see if they are wise enough to know their 
own father ? ” 

“ I will consent to anything you may 
arrange,” said the General, “ but I am 
quite sure that my boy Reginald would 
peer through all disguises.” 


Doctor Dick . 


156 

The next day when the party left Wash 
ington, Dr. Miller begged them to enjoy 
for him, while he attended to stern duties, 
and above all he hoped they would re¬ 
turn to the Wood-box. The Doctor was 
not surprised at the friendship between 
his friend Dr. Warrington and General 
Gresham when he came to know the 
beautiful nature of the latter, and, like 
his wife, Dr. Miller knew that the situ¬ 
ation must be extremely trying to a proud 
and cultivated man. His large estates were 
useless, his property gone, his family broken 
up, his health shattered, and yet no word 
of complaint passed his lips. He had 
been drawn into the war on his return 
from Europe, and the very fact that his 
fondness for the old flag was not concealed, 
made his position still more trying. Un¬ 
like his former slave, Lex, he was not 
ungrateful, and yet it seemed impossible 
for him to repay his relatives and his North¬ 
ern friends for their kindness to his 


Joy Bells at “ the Annex? i$y 

children. He hoped soon to see his way 
through the darkness and once more bring 
his beloved sister and his children to 
gether. How this could be done he did 
not know, .all was confusion and uncer¬ 
tainty, and yet he bore himself grandly, 
and received with courtly grace the at¬ 
tention of his travelling companions. 

The train had nearly reached Boston 
before Mrs. Miller’s plans were quite com¬ 
plete. On reaching Cambridge the party 
went at once to the house of Professor 
Huntley, where Miss Marion was found at 
home and much pleased to see the “ dear 
Mrs. Miller,” of whom she had heard much. 
The plan was briefly told, and a note was 
sent to Dolly. 

“ She is at home, I know,” said Marion. 
“ I promised to rehearse a duet with her 
this evening, and as it is quite usual 
for us to find our little plans interrupted, 

I will write a hurried note which will 
bring her speedily.” 


Doctor Dick . 


158 

When the messenger called, Dolly was 
engaged in her old-time occupation of 
brushing her father’s hair. 

“ It is a note from Marion, papa. She 
says — ‘ Dear Dolly, please come to me 
at once. I will not detain you long.’ ” 
“Then go, my daughter; for the secrets 
of young girls are quite as important as 
hair dressing,” and Dolly went. 

“ Come right in, dear,” said Marion as 
Dolly ran in flushed and rosy. “ I have 
a new trio, come and tell me what you 
think of it,” and before Dolly knew what 
had happened, she was ushered into the 
presence of Mrs. Miller and the gentlemen. 
She saw only her friend however for a 
few moments. “ Dear, dear Mrs. Miller, 
how came you here ? ” 

“ These old friends brought me, Dolly. 
Haven’t you a word for Colonel Brent¬ 
ford and General Gresham ? ” 

Dolly extended a hand to each while 
she glanced shyly at the tall gentleman 


Joy Bells at “ the Annex? 


159 


she had known as “cousin Gresham.” 

“ Dolly, my dear relative and brave little 
woman, how am I to address you ? ” said 
the General, drawing her toward him, 
“ bless me, how you have grown.” 

“ Hasn’t she ? ” said Mrs. Miller, “ ah 
me, we are all so fond of our one girl.” 

(i When did you come? Where from? 
How came you here ? Do tell me all,” 
said Dolly eagerly. 

“ Colonel Brentford brought General 
Gresham to us, and we at once resolved 
to make a raid on old Cambridge, and 
as I did not know just the condition of 
your father’s nerves now, and dared not 
carry out a surprise without consulting 
you, I had the audacity to present myself 
to Miss Huntley and ask her co-opera¬ 
tion.” 

“ For which she devoutly thanks you,” 
said that young lady. 

“ You must come home with me at 
once,” said Dolly, “ think of Reggie’s face 




160 Doctor Dick . 

when he sees his father once more. I 
think he is in his room now, and the 
rest will soon come trooping in as it is our 
usual dinner hour in about forty minutes.” 

“ Sit down and hear my plan first,” said 
Mrs. Miller, taking the girl’s trembling hand 
in hers. Dolly obeyed. 

“ I can improve on it a little, I think,” 
said Dolly when her friend concluded. “I 
will return home and see if the coast is clear, 
if so, I will smuggle you into papa’s room 
and close the folding doors; then we will tell 
the boys that papa has guests, and sud¬ 
denly open the doors upon you.” 

“ Only, if you will allow me to suggest,” 
said Colonel Brentford, “ we would like 
to test the truth of Reggie’s oft-repeated 
assertion that he should know his father- 
anywhere, in any dress, under any dis¬ 
guises.” 

“And will you disguise yourself?” 
asked Dolly, turning her blushing face to¬ 
ward General Gresham. 


Joy Bells at “the Annex” 161 

“ Sickness, trouble and war have made 
that unnecessary. When I last saw my 
children, my dark locks and moustache 
were untouched by time; now, you see, 
my child, they are snowy enough for a 
man of eighty, and many of my old friends 
fail to recognize me.” 

To gratify his friends, General Gresham 
consented to wear his coat buttoned tightly 
and also to brush his hair over his full 
brow. 

“ He can study them all quietly for a 
time,” said Mrs. Miller, “and see the won¬ 
derful improvement his children have made; 
the only eyes I dread are those of Doctor 
Warrington.” 

“ Oh, papa and General Gresham can 
arrange all that before the doors are 

o 

opened,” said Dolly. 

Dolly ran away and encountered Dick 
in the hall of the Annex. 

“ Bless me, what a color she has,” he 
said teasingly. “ Cousin Dolly, if you are 


162 


Doctor Dick . 

very discreet and careful of your complexion 
you will be quite good looking when you 
are forty years old.” 

Dolly was too happy to be vexed, and 
she only answered cheerily, “Never mind 
my looks Dick, it is nearly dinner time 
and your ‘sweet maid Marion’ is coming 
in this evening with an old friend of her 
father’s.” 

“ A don is he ? ” 

“No, an army officer; do run up and 
warn the boys. The last time she was 
here with a stranger Wally had on a frowsy 
necktie, and poor old Chari wore soiled 
cuffs. They don’t mean to, bless them, 
but you know I want them to look their 
best.” 

“Precisely,” said Dick; “‘she had so 
many children she didn’t know what to do.’ 
Your motherly anxiety is charming. I say, 
Dolly, give up your plan of being an old- 
maid music teacher, and try for a position 
as matron of a foundling asylum; your past 


Joy Bells at “ the Annex” i6j 


experience, fondness for children, etc., etc., 
etc., all render you eminently fitted for it.” 

“ I will consider it,” called back Dolly, 
whose hand was on the door of her 
fathers room. She found Bertie with her 
father, and he must be disposed of. 

“ Go to Reggie’s room, dear, and put on 
a clean collar. Cousin Dolly will fasten 
the bow for you when you come down.” 

Bertie ran away pleased to think him¬ 
self old enough to put on his collar alone. 

“ Now papa,” said Dolly closing the 
folding-doors;’ “you are to have guests, 
dear old friends. They have just arrived, 
and we do not want the boys to know. I 
will smuggle them in here, and you are to 
be as much pleased to see them as you 
like, only, one of them mind is called 
General Graham . You have heard Pro¬ 
fessor Huntley and Marion speak of him, 
have you not ? ” 

“Oh yes, frequently; and a fine old 
gentleman he must be.” 


164 Doctor Dick . 

“ Well, papa, if you see a dear old 
friend when you look in the General’s 
face, you will be very discreet, won’t you, 
and not call him by any other name ? ” 

“ Unfold your riddle, my child.” 

“Not now papa, as they are waiting.” 

Away flew Dolly to summon her guests, 
and soon they were all snugly settled in 
the Doctor’s room. For a few moments 
his excitement and pleasure in receiving 
Mrs. Miller and Colonel Brentford, led 
him to simply greet with his usual kind¬ 
ness Marion and her -friend. 

“ I did not like to come so soon again, 
Doctor,” said she “ but Dolly and Mrs. 
Miller insisted. 

“You are always welcome my dear 
girl,” said he, “ and General Graham will 
soon learn — ” He glanced at his guest 
as he spoke, and shaded his eyes with 
his ’hand, 

“Will soon learn that the homeless and 
unfortunate, as well as the happy, are ever 


Joy Bells at “ the Annex” 165 

welcome under your roof,” said Colonel 
Brentford, speaking for his friend, who was 
endeavoring to control his feelings in the 
presence of his more than brother. 

“ I hope so,” replied the Doctor. “ Gen¬ 
eral, when did you leave your command ? ” 

“ About a week since.” 

“ And you are not sorry to return to 
the pleasures of home life are you ? ” 

For some reason the simple question 
caused the veteran to hesitate, and when 
he spoke again it was in another key. 

“ Some of us have neither homes nor 
friends, Doctor.” 

Doctor Warrington moved uneasily in 
his chair. 

“ Do take this seat, General,” said Mrs. 
Miller, “ now that the young ladies have 
left us, we older people will be as cozy as 
possible. It is an old custom of ours to 
rail ) 7 about the Doctor.” 

The General took the seat designated, 
where the light shone full on his face. 


i66 


Doctor Dick . 


For one moment Doctor Warrington gazed 
at him keenly, and then exclaimed, 
“Gresham! Heaven be praised, you are 
with us once more! ” 

Mrs. Miller and Colonel Brentford turned 
away with moist eyes, as the two old 
friends embraced each other after such 
serious and sad changes. Dolly had gone 
to the dining-room to make the already 
generous table larger, and Marion had 
kindly undertaken the care of Bertie in 
the parlor, where she played the piano 
with unusual vigor. Below stairs Miss 
Lucinda was assisting Dolly about the 
table, and saying over and over again: 
“Back safe and sound at last; well, well, 
to be sure.” 

Aunt Axy, kind, faithful and busy, 
heard the news while holding a large po¬ 
tato masher in her hand, with which she 
was beating to a creamy whiteness that ex¬ 
cellent vegetable. “ De Lord is merciful, 
deed he is,” exclaimed she, as she brought 


Joy Bells at “ the Annex.” i6j 

the masher down with such force that 
particles of potato flew like snow-flakes upon 
her cooking table. 

“ Siah junior was at once sent to the 
nearest, store to procure certain dainties 
for the guests, as Miss Lucinda said “ it 
was a burning shame not to have a splendid 
dinner.” As the bill of fare for that day- 
consisted of soup, fish and roast beef, 
Dolly was not in the least alarmed on that 
score. Seats for the entire party were soon 
arranged, and the happy girl flew up stairs 
to join Marion. 

Dick was already down chatting merrily 
with that young lady, quite unconscious of 
the presence of his mother on the other 
side of the door, and in a few moments 
the family were all gathered in the front 
parlor, wondering why dinner was so late, 
and why they were not permitted to run 
in and greet the Doctor as usual. 

“ Papa has friends with him,” said Dolly 
meekly, not daring to look at Marion. “ I 


i68 


Doctor Dick . 


will go in and see if they are ready for 
dinner.” 

In a moment more the folding-doors 
rolled back and disclosed Mrs. Miller sitting 
by the Doctor’s chair, Colonel Brentford 
looking eager and expectant, and General 
Graham upon the sofa nervously twirling 
the ends of his long gray moustache. 
Marion, as the friend of the latter gen¬ 
tleman, introduced him as soon as she 
could make herself heard. Doctor Dick 
seized his mother at once, and Colonel 
Brentford was surrounded by the boys who 
were eager to shake him by the hand. 

Strange to say, Jack Montgomery was 

the first to say a word to the General, 

% 

who retained his position on the sofa, 
and responded to Jack in a remarkably gruff 
tone of voice. When the first confusion 
was over, Dolly urged the boys to leave 
fragments of Colonel Brentford, as the 
dinner-bell sounded some moments be¬ 
fore. 


Joy Bells at “ the Annex? i6g 

Owing to the stairs which were narrow 
and somewhat crooked, the Doctor had 
not dined with the family regularly since 
their residence in Cambridge. Now, the 
boys insisted that he must do so, and in 
a twinkling Walter had arranged the 
rollers expressly prepared by him for the 
purpose, and the beloved guardian of the 
household sat once more at the table, with 
his handsome face lighted with joy. 
Mrs. Miller sat on his right hand, the 
General on his left, while Dolly looked 
after Colonel Brentford and Marion. Miss 
Lucinda and Dolly had seated Reggie 
next the General, while Dick was directly 
opposite radiant and handsome, by the 
• side of “ the dearest woman in the world.” 
Every one knows how very awkward it is 
to look in the face of a stranger seated 
next you at table, especially when the 
plates are of necessity near together. 

Reggie was unconsciously drawn to the 
General, who without saying much to any 


iyo 


Doctor Dick . 


one but the Doctor, seemed to be some¬ 
what nervous. 

Miss Lucinda at the sideboard kept her 
keen eyes fastened on the General, and yet 
managed to issue her orders to Siah junior 
and the maid. 

“Will you take pepper, General?” asked 
Reggie politely. 

“Yes,” the General took pepper. It was 
a simple thing, and yet it created a sen¬ 
sation, for, no sooner did the guest take 
the pepper box from his hand and give it 
a light twirl over his fish, than Reggie 
looked at him, and for a second did not 
remove his eyes. 

This the General did not notice as he 
was replying to a question of the Doctor’s, 
but Mrs. Miller glancing across saw the 
act and smiled. Her look encouraged 
Reggie, and again he glanced at the 
stranger, who, unguardedly dropped the 
assumed gruffness of voice, and said in 
his natural tone, “ You are quite right 


Joy Bells at “ the Annex” 171 

as usual.” Dick was engaged in putting 
food on his mother’s plate. 

“ Now, sweetheart,” said he, “ eat away; 
fortify yourself; no bed to-night until you 
have talked us literally blind.” 

“ But Dick, I told you we dined at the 
Parker House.” 

“ Nonsense! they never gave a repast 
equal to this. Repast sounds better than 
dinner or lunch, you know. Now try some 
of Aunt Axy’s bread; good as ever, you 
see. Now a shake of pepper sauce on your 
fish. No ? Well, she shall eat it as she 
pleases, but she must eat; no fine lady, 
delicate airs here, Mrs. Miller. Our am¬ 
brosia can be cut in slices. Reggie, what 
are you looking at? One might fancy you 
had seen the ghost of an ancestor.” 

All »eyes were turned on Reggie. He 
had put down his knife and fork and his 
face was deadly pale. 

“ If I mistake not I see my ancestor here 
by my side.” A::d the poor fellow could 


7/2 


Doctor Dick . 


say no more. General Gresham held him 
in his arms and was instantly surrounded 
by the entire group. Ned, Charlie and 
Walter fairly pulled him about while at 
Dick’s suggestion the dining-room rang 
with “ three cheers for the veterans.” This 
gave every one something to do, and the 
General, who was indeed much overcome, 
time to recover his composure. 

“ How did you know or suspect ? ” asked 
Dolly, when all were seated once more. 

“ I knew him the moment he twirled the 
pepper-box,” said Reggie. “It was a little 
trick of his when I was quite small, and I 
used to spend my time in trying to do it.” 

“ Do show us once more,” said Mrs. 

% 

Miller, whose eyes were moist, and had 
been since she saw the tired, suffering, 
anxious soldier hold his children in his 
arms. 

General Gresham went through the per¬ 
formance again, which simply consisted of 
holding the box firmly b:tween thumb 


Joy Bells at “ the Annex? 173 

and finger and then quickly turning the 
wrist. 

If General Gresham had been lonely and 
homeless for long dreary years, he was 
now the lion of the hour. Every one at 
the table wished to show him some at¬ 
tention. 

Reggie could not eat. Again and again 

he tried to keep up appearances but it was 

♦ 

impossible. He thought of his dear, dead 
mother, of his aunt, of the once beautiful 
home, and then as he looked at his father 
and saw him so much older and evidently 
so worn and weary, his heart was full. 
Doctor Warrington understood him, and 
said, when Dick began to tease. “ Never 
mind, my boy, your appetite will come by- 
and-by ; when you fully realize that the* 
war is indeed over, and your father is 
safe.” 

“ I seem to be waking up from a bad 
dream,” said Reggie. 

“ I should have known papa if he had 


*74 


Doctor Dick . 


. worn his hair as he used to,” said Ned. 

“ I shouldn’t,” said Charlie. “ Uncle is 
thinner than he used to be, and the white 
whiskers change him so.” 

“ Can’t you dye them ? ” asked Walter. 

“ Certainly,” exclaimed Dick. “ Get out 
another patent for that, Wally. Your 
inventive genius never fails, you know.” 

“ I shall not resort to any deception,” 
said the General, “ and I only regret that 
I look older for your sakes. We will not 
forget the many frolics we have had,” he 
added, “ and perhaps many are yet to come. 
We were all boys together, Mrs. Miller, 
and now you see they are inclined to look 
upon me as a patriarch.” 

“ I shall not, General,” said Miss Marion. 
“ Whenever your white locks are abused, 
call on me to defend them. I quite long 
to have soft gray hair.” 

The boys laughed. They were very 
fond of this bright young girl who ran in 
and out and aided them in all their plans. 


yoy Bells at “ the Annex? iyy 

“You might wear a wig,” suggested 
Dick. 

“ No, thanks to you Doctor, I prefer 
natural colors; in short, nature always.” 
And then she added in a lower tone to 
Colonel Brentford and Dolly, “You know 
papa’s hair turned snowy white the night 
mamma died, and I was a silly little thing 
and quite afraid of him. I often think now, 
how much he must have suffered.” 

“Will he join us this evening?” asked 
Jack Montgomery. 

“ I think so. I left a note on his table 
telling him the good news.” 

“ And I,” said Dolly, “ sent a despatch to 

our good Dr. H-. How surprised he 

will be.” 

“ I don’t think he could be surprised,” 
said Harvard Budd. “ He is a philosopher, 
and ready for anything. 

It was very late when the family left 
the dining-room. As Dr. Warrington 
would not use wine at his table, the guests 



Doctor Dick . 


176 

were pledged in a cup of Aunt Axy’s 
coffee, and Dr. Dick distinguished himself 
once more as an orator. 

The door-bell rang twice before the 
Doctor was carried up-stairs and found 
there his friends the Professor and jovial 
Dr. H-. 



CHAPTER XV. 



JACK MONTGOMERY. 

RESHAM old boy, and wicked 
sinner, how are you ? ” exclaimed 
Doctor H-. 

“ Do you mean to intimate that I came 
from the regions of darkness ? ” asked the 
General, shaking his hand warmly. 

“ Never mind, it was hot enough I dare 
say; why bless you, I have not seen you 
since — when was it, the flood, or an Alumni 
dinner? ” 

“You see him now after the fire, not 
flood, sir,” said Dolly.- 

“ Hear the child, she gives me some 
sort of impertinence whenever I come here. 

177 



Doctor Dick . 


178 

Dolly, my clear, you were right to send me 
word, it does me good to see Gresham 
once more in the flesh. ' Does he know 
Professor Huntley ? No, well, we must see 
to that. Professor, let me introduce you 
to General Gresham, the rebel of our class; 
he was a capital young .man, and is a hand¬ 
some old one.” 

“ Speak for yourself, Doctor,” said the 
General, taking Professor Huntley’s offered 
hand, “ and remember, sir, I am your 
junior.” 

“Yes, you are correct. You were always 
shamefully exact in figures, but he is a 
young old boy, Huntley, after all.” 

Colonel Brentford, who was seated by 
Doctor Warrington, was introduced to the 

guests, and Doctor H-, after looking at 

him for a few moments, said, 

“Did the boys call you ‘Grit,’ sir?” 

“ I think so,” said the Colonel, blushing 
like a school-boy. 

“ Do you remember taking care of a 



Jack Montgomery. 


*79 


Massachusetts boy belonging to the - 

Regiment, and after nursing him for several 
days sending him home at your own ex¬ 
pense ? ” 

“ I may have done so, sir.” 

“ I know you did. Well sir,” said the 
Doctor, with a certain huskiness of voice, 
“that sick boy was my youngest son, and 
you will believe me when I tell you that 
I am proud and glad to take your hand.” 

“ Sisters and aunts, and hosts of cousins, 
— but heroes, why bless me, they come in 
dozens,” said Dick, who was flying about 
the room, now here, now there, with 
Bertie’s hand in his. 

Bertie, poor child, had talked constantly 
of his uncle, but the pictures in the family 
album were totally unlike the face of the 
gentleman the boys were so glad to see. 

“ Put your arms about his neck and 
hug him tight, Bertie dear,” said Dolly, 
when the General first opened his arms 
to the family pet. Bertie obeyed directions, 



180 Doctor Dick . 

but soon crept away and kept close to 
either Dick or Dolly. His large eyes 
were constantly drawn to the face once 
so dear to him in baby days, but the 
little fellow had an imaginary uncle in 
mind, and as he said to Dick, “ He must 
wait a little to get acquainted with this 
new one.” Mrs. Miller was in her element. 
She was at her best in a room full of 
young people, and the young gentlemen 
who were her devoted friends at the sea¬ 
shore renewed their acquaintance with zeal. 

In some mysterious fashion Howard 
Budd ordered a superb bouquet, which was 
sent in during the evening addressed to 
“ Mrs. Miller with compliments of the 
Hospital club,” and not to be outdone, 
Jack Montgomery ordered another directed 
“ to Mrs. Miller, the little woman who 
thinks of everybody and whom everybody 
loves.” 

“ Look here fellows,” said Doctor Dick, 
“this is getting to be serious, three ladies 


Jack Montgomery . 181 

present, and two bouquets for one. My 
dear mother, allow me to relieve you, such 
burdens at your time of life are over¬ 
powering.” The saucy rogue placed the 
flowers on the piano, after taking from 
each bouquet a bit of color which he 
gallantly pinned in the lace at his moth¬ 
er’s throat. “Your other lovers may pre¬ 
sent the flowers,” he said mockingly, “ I 
alone can decorate you with them.” 

“ Isn’t it charming to see them together ? ” 
asked Marion as she stood by Dolly’s side. 

“Yes, one of the prettiest pictures in 
the wide world, and the best of it is, 
Marion dear, Dick is not spasmodically 
kind, he is always thinking of her and 
watching over her; no matter how many 
pretty girls are about him, Doctor Dicks 
mother comes first.” 

“ And she should,” said Marion warmly ; 
“ she is worthy of all devotion one can 
easily see; if she were not, his care and 
reverence should be the same.” 


i 82 


Doctor Dick. 


“ Dick’s wife will find a powerful rival 
to contend with,” said Colonel Brentford. 

“ I cannot believe it,” said Marion. 
“ Your grand women like Mrs. Miller 
never give themselves up to small jeal¬ 
ousies, and I fully believe that Doctor 
Dick’s wife will be a fortunate and happy 
woman. Don’t you think so, Dolly?” 

“ I have never thought anything about 
it,” said Dolly innocently. “ I only know 
that dear Mrs. Miller is a mother to us 
all, young as she is, and everything moves 
on properly and every one is happy with 
her.” 

Dolly crossed the room as she spoke 
and placed her hand on her friend’s arm. 
Mrs. Miller took it in hers, and went on 
chatting with Doctor H-about Cam¬ 

bridge society, the famous Radical gath¬ 
erings in Boston, and kindred topics. 
When Dolly excused herself to put Bertie 
in bed, General Gresham followed her 
with his eyes, and said to his old friend, 



Jack Montgomery. 183 

“ She has grown very like her mother, 
and is yet like you; no wonder my boys 
worship her.” 

“ They are a happy family, Gresham, and 
if they must be separated I hope you will 
postpone the evil day as long as possible.” 

“We will not think of it to-night at 
least,” said the General with a sigh. 

It was eleven o’clock when Doctor 

H-, the Professor and Marion at last 

left for home. Colonel Brentford was tor¬ 
mented with questions, General Gresham 
explained many things concerning the Con¬ 
federacy, and Mrs. Miller amused them 
by recounting some of the antics of Lex 
since his return to the Woodbox. 

As Mrs. Miller could remain but a short 
time and Colonel Brentford had business 
at the War Department in Washington, 
the friends agreed to meet again the fol¬ 
lowing evening, when the young people 
promised them some music. Just before 
parting Dolly seated herself at the piano, 



Doctor Dick . 


184 

and all the family joined in singing, 
“ Praise God from whom all blessings 
flow.” 

General Gresham and Colonel Brentford 
wished to spend the night at a hotel lest 
the Annex should be overcrowded, but the 
boys were determined to take the General 
up to their den, as Dick declared him¬ 
self promised to Harvard Budd, and Colonel 
Brentford had accepted Jack Montgomery’s 
invitation to share his quarters. “Small 
and plain enough,” said honest Jack, “but 
rather better than the ground for a mat¬ 
tress and the sky for a roof.” 

Not one of the party could forget 
Doctor Warrington’s prayer that night. 
His kind heart was full of thanksgiving, 
and as Jack said to Howard Budd, “ There 
is no cant or nonsense about him, he 
felt every word he said, and made us feel 
it too.” 

“ Since I knew Doctor Warrington,” said 
Mr. Budd, “ I have had a change in my 


Jack Montgomery . i8y 

views on many subjects, especially on re¬ 
ligious matters. His faith is a vital thing, 
not a theory.” 

“ Dick and Reggie have the same,” said 
Jack, “ only Reggie inherits a somewhat 
morbid temperament. Did I ever tell you, 
Budd, about my last little scrape ? ” 

“ No never.” 

“Is it anything private?” asked Colonel 
Brentford, joining them. 

It was the morning after the arrival of 
the guests, and the three were in Jack’s 
quarters preparing for a walk. 

“Oh, no, nothing secret,” said Jack. 
“ When a fellow has made a fool of him¬ 
self, it is common honesty to say so, and 
please Heaven, it shall not occur again. 

“ I had been going out a good deal to 
parties, having what some of our fellows 
call ‘ a good time.’ ” 

“Yes,” said Colonel Brentford, “we all 
know what it means, Montgomery. It 
means liquor in the stomach and head, 


i86 


Doctor Dick. 


cigar-smoke, poor jokes, loud talking, non¬ 
sense, and then disgrace; it means ne¬ 
glected lessons, broken rules, an abused 
body, headache and remorse, in fact, doing 
the things you would be ashamed to do in 
the presence of a woman like Mrs. Miller, 
or a young girl like Miss Dolly.” 

“ How well you know,” said Jack looking 
from the Colonel to his friend Budd. 

“Yes,” said the Colonel, “only too well. 
Just such things robbed me of a kind 
brother, a good, affectionate boy who went 
down under it and lies buried here in New 
England; bnt tell us the story, Mont¬ 
gomery. I always thought Charlie might 
have been saved if he had enjoyed the 
quiet restrictions of a good home, instead 
of knocking about in a boarding-house. 

“ It is the home-life which hundreds of 
young men need,” said Budd. 

“ Well,” said Jack, “ I was a fool; no one 
was to blame but myself. However, I was 
out one night very late, and Dolly missed 


Jack Montgomery . i8y 

me. I think she suspected some of my 
wildness. At all events, about two in the 
morning she went up to the boys’ room 
and told Dick. He and Reggie went out 
at once, and they found me, I shall never 
know how I came there, in a low saloon in 
the rear of a building. My watch was 
gone, all my money, and I was stupidly 
drunk. That word is ugly, but true. 

“ How they managed, I do not know; 
but they brought me home and put me to 
bed. I had been drugged without doubt, 
and was pretty sick for a few days. I re¬ 
member Dolly coming to me with a cup 
of coffee and then nothing more until Dick 
and Reggie took turns staying with me. 
As soon as I could talk, I made a clean 
breast of things as far as I knew them, and 
then I wish you might have heard Dick 
Miller. 

“ ‘ Jackey,’ he said, ‘ we must put down 
the foot fair and square. It may answer 
for some to take an occasional glass of 


i88 


Doctor Dick . 


wine, but it will not for you and me. We 
need clear heads and strong bodies, and 
these vile decoctions called wine will injure 
both ; beside, a thousand good times or 
sprees could never make us suffer half as 
much as it would two dear, good women 
we know.' 

“ I can’t tell you half he said, or say it 
half as well, but I was conquered. I knew 
he was right and I was wrong. I asked 
him what he would do if he were on a ship 
where guests were entertained and all 
drank to them. 

“ ‘ Do as I have done before. Fill my 
glass with water and make myself under¬ 
stood as acting on principle. Men never 
assail each other’s principles, only cowards 
do that. You would not fear beino: 
laughed at if you said you admired Tom 
Paine or disliked him. You would not 
fear sneers if you were a devout Catholic 
or a strict believer in the Trinity; now 
why on earth does a young man fear to 


Jack Montgomery . 


189 

say I don’t believe in drinking. It cannot 
do me any good, it may and does do great 
harm, and I will not drink.’ 

“ Then Dolly came. Bless that girl, 
she is worth a dozen fashionable flirts.” 

“ A thousand,” said Harvard Budd. 

“ Make it a million,” said the Colonel. 

“ Well, Dolly petted me, and nursed me 
up, but never once said I am ashamed of 
you for your weakness, although I have 
heard her say that she could not trust a 
man who would allow himself to be intox¬ 
icated more than once. He may be de¬ 
ceived the first time, the second he deceives 
himself. 

“ I told her all about it at last, and she 
actually cried, but her only sermon was: 
‘Well, Jack, we all have our weak points. 
Now you know yours, and therefore it is 
easily conquered. I think you will never 
put yourself in the power of such doubtful 
friends asfain.’ ” 

O 

“And you never have,” said Harvard 


Ipo 


Doctor Dick . 


with a friendly clap of the hand on Jack’s 
shoulder. 

“Never, thank God,” said Jack; “but 
come, gentlemen, the boys will be waiting 
for us.” 


CHAPTER XVI. 


SIAH JUNIOR MAKES AN EXPERIMENT. 



HILE our young friends were busy 
r. and happy with their guests, the 
housekeepers at the “ Annex ” were also 
occupied. 

“ Now Miss Dolly,” said Miss Lucinda 
when the former ran down to inspect the 
table on the following morning, “don’t you 
stop to do a mite of work while Mrs. 
Miller is here ; you see she can’t stay long 
anyway, and I’ll look after things. Do you 
just see to your pa and Bertie, and what 
Axy and Melissy and me can’t do, we’ll 
leave undone.” 


Doctor Dick . 


192 

“ I’ll look after the boys’ rooms a little,” 
said Dolly. “You know the General must 
be made comfortable, and their books and 
traps are all over the third story.” 

“ Well it stands to reason that you know 

their ways better than any one, but you just 

take Siah up with you, and make him dust 

and so on ; he knows how as well as any 

girl in Massachusetts, I’ll be bound, for I 

trained him myself.” 

«✓ 

“ All right,” replied Dolly, “ after prayers 
I will leave the visitors with papa while I 
arrange matters ‘ up aloft ’ as Dick says.” 

Very pretty was our Dolly in her dainty 
sweeping cap with its blue bows, as she ran 
through the halls after breakfast. She had 
excused herself to Mrs. Miller, and now as she 
mounted the stairs armed with a feather 
duster, a whisk broom, and a little dust-pan, 
she was indeed a picture. So thought 
Harvard Budd as he caught a glimpse of 
her while putting on his gloves in the lower 
hall; so also thought Colonel Brentford who 


193 


SiaJi yuniors Experiment. 

was going out with Bucld and Jack Mont¬ 
gomery, and “ up aloft,” so thought Doctor 
Dick and Reggie who were putting some 
books in order on their study table. 

“ Hang it, Dolly, why do you do this sort 
■ of thing ? ” exclaimed Dick. 

“ What sort of thing, your highness ? ” 
asked Dolly. 

“ Why, the maid’s work.” 

“ Oh, because I am a maid.” 

The boys laughed. 

“ Well I should think,” said Dick with a 
frown, “ that servants could be found to do 
the necessary drudgery of the family without. 
Miss Warrington’s being obliged to do it.” 

“ Indeed ! ” said Dolly with a courtesy. 

“You forget,” said Reggie, “that cousin 
Dolly performs all these duties in order to 
make us more comfortable. What havoc a 
servant would make among your valuables 
on the table there by the window. I con¬ 
sider it extremely kind in her to care so 
much for us.” 


Doctor Dick. 


*94 

“ That is all true,” said Dick, “ but she 
does not care for herself. Think how dusty 
it is, and how it will spoil her hands, and 
exhaust her strength. I say, Cousin Dolly, 
if you sweep these rooms after all our messes 
and tramps, I shall vacate at once.” 

“ Oh, leave me not in sorrow,” sang Dolly 
as she brushed bits of paper, cigar ashes, and 
dust, into the little pan. 

“No, but I will leave downright cross,” 
said Dick, laughing in spite of himself. 
“ You see I have ideas of my own about 
these things; if ever / marry, my wife 
shall not perform any such menial ser- 
vice. 

“ Hear, hear,” cried Dolly and the boys. 

“ I want her for a companion, not an 
upper servant,” said Dick. 

“ When found make a note on,”’ said 
Charlie, quoting Captain Cuttle. 

“Now I understand sweet maid Marion’s 
remark,” said Dolly. 

“ What remark ? ” asked Dick. “ She is 


Siah Junior s Experiment . 195 

sensible ; you don’t find her grubbing in the 
dirt." 

“ What was the remark, Cousin ? " asked 
Reg, who was almost angry with Dick. * 

“ She said ‘ Doctor Dick’s wife would be 
a fortunate and happy woman.’ ” 

The boys fairly shouted. The idea of 
Dick being married struck them as highly 
absurd, and yet he was constantly telling 
what his wife should be and do. Dolly bent 
her head low over some spots on the carpet 
which she was trying to remove, and no one 
saw the mischief in her eyes. 

“Well, you must admit,’’ said Dick when 
the laughter had subsided, “ that I respect 
women, and therefore do not wish to see 
them overburdened. I think there is a 
heap of nonsense about housekeeping, any¬ 
way, and plenty of dirty work ; you may 
laugh as much as you like, but the future 
Mrs. Miller shall not do a servant’s work if I 
can help it." 

“Wait until she appears Doctor Dick," 


Doctor Dick . 


196 

said Dolly rising from her duty of cleaning 
the carpet. “ I do not think any young 
girl chooses the dirty work, but there is 
real pleasure in dusting and arranging; a 
quiet satisfaction in seeing things neat and 
tidy, and a certain sense of self respect 
which a woman cannot have if she is igno¬ 
rant of little home duties. It pleases me 
to make home pleasant, and if I did not 
sometimes do such work myself, I should 
not know how to direct others. One is 
always in danger of expecting too much 
when they know nothing of the time it re¬ 
quires to do little things. In a family 
like ours, two, or even three servants could 
not do all the work, and I think it is better 
for my health, conscience, and pocket to do 
something which requires a little taste, skill, 
and patience to perform.” 

“ And you are quite right,” said Reggie. 
“ I am sure we are all your debtors; I only 
wish I knew something of housework 
myself, and I should insist on helping you*” 


Siah Junior s Experiment. 197 

“Your corner is always in order,” said 
Dolly, “and that is your way of helping, 
Reggie ; if Wally and dear old Bismarck 
were equally careful, my duties on this floor 
would be light.” 

“ I know it, Cousin Dolly,” said Charley 
with a rueful face, “ you see I mean to pick 
up things, and for a week or two I can.” 

“ So you do, dear, but I would a thous¬ 
and times rather clear up after you than not 
have you about, dirt and all,” said Dolly, 
kissing Chari whose hand rested on her 
arm. 

“ Do you think there is danger of our 
going away ? ” asked Ned in alarm. 

“ I don’t know dear; if there is, I shall be 
a miserable Cousin Dolly.” 

“You shall go with us, Dolly; go with 
us to Richmond,” said Charlie eagerly, “ and 
never leave us.” 

“We can’t tell what may happen,” said 
Dolly dusting the various nick-nicks on the 
mantle. 


Doctor Dick . 


ig8 

“ And what, pray, is to become of me,” 
asked Dick, “ when you and Dolly go to 
Richmond ? ” 

“ Oh, you will graduate, marry the para¬ 
gon who will not work, and be happy,” said 
Dolly. 

“ Thank you for your fortune telling,” 
said Dick in a snappish tone, “ it is agreea¬ 
ble to know that you will all find a pleasant 
world of your own.” 

“ Don’t be foolish Dick,” said Reg in a 
quiet tone, “ you are very fond of teasing 
others, but will not bear it yourself.” 

“ ‘ Beloved children,’ as Aunt Axy says,” 
remarked Dolly turning about to face her 
audience, duster in hand, “ as you are to 
have a special holiday, suppose you improve 
it by going down stairs, while Siah, under 
my directions performs certain duties here, 
then we are to make plans for to-morrow. 
The truth is, I am in a hurry to finish my 
‘ drudgery ’ this morning, and feel anxious to 
spend every moment with Mrs. Miller.” 


Siah Junior s Experiment. igg 

“ Let it go,” said Dick, “ don’t do another 
thing.” 

“ Dust won’t hurt anything,” said Walter, 
“unless it’s machinery.” 

“That is like you, Wally, now go down 
and let me reign supreme. In one hour 
even the fastidious Doctor Dick will admit 
that I am neither frowsy or coarse after my 
exercise.” 

Siah Junior was a peculiar boy. He was 
lank and lean, with large gray eyes, and 
a mouth always open owing to some pro¬ 
jecting teeth. His step-mother could not 
manage him, and Aunt Lucinda could, in 
fact, the boy was almost afraid of the latter, 
remembering certain shakings he had re¬ 
ceived for impertinence. He loved his aunt, 
it is true, but it was a love mingled with 
awe. When he spoke he drawled out his 
words and elevated first one shoulder and 
then the other. He seemed to be thinking 
of some important subject most of the time. 
It was always necessary to call him several 


200 


Doctor Dick . 


times before he was aware that you had 
spoken. 

On this particular morning Dolly was 
quite willing to take him into her service, as 
the young maid servant had extra duties 
to perform. 

“ Now Siah,” said Dolly when the boys 
had left them, “ I want you to dust the other 
things. Do not touch the books or tables, 
especially Doctor Dick’s table by the 
window, where he tries experiments.” 

“ No Miss,” drawled Siah, and after a few 
moments Dolly left him. 

The guests with the children were all 
assembled in the parlor with the folding 
doors closed, thus leaving Dolly free to ar¬ 
range her father’s private rooms. She had 
just slipped on a little dressing sacque and 
was preparing to curl her fine hair when a 
terrible scream rang through the house. 
Every one ran into the hall, but Dolly flew 
by them and mounted the stairs closely 
followed by Dick and Reggie. 


Siah Junior s Experiment . 


201 


“ 1 feared mischief when Aunt Lucinda 
urged me to bring him here,” said Dolly, 
bursting into the room occupied by the 
larger boys. 

Siah junior was stretched upon the floor, 
screaming lustily, while he covered his eyes 
with his hands. “ What is it, tell us ? ” 
urged Dolly and Reginald, while Dick held 
on his sides aud laughed. 

“ You cruel fellow,” said Dolly, quite pro¬ 
voked ; “ the poor child’s eyes may be put 
out.” 

a Not a bit of it,” said Dick, “ he has been 
trying to blow soap bubbles. Here, you 
young rascal, stop your noise, you are not 
hurt, but you may be next time; if you had 
touched the bottle on the left, you would 
have had your head taken off.” 

“ Reggie, please run down and say there 
is nothing serious, papa might — ” Reggie 
was gone before she finished her sen¬ 
tence. 

Dick raised the boy to his feet and then 


202 


Doctor Dick . 


laughed aerain as he saw his face. It was 
covered with black spots. “ Go wash your 
face,” said Dick, “ and don’t put any soap on 
it He is all right, Dolly; I am not as cruel 
as you think. The fact is, I was making a 
kind of ink which appears white and color¬ 
less as water until exposed to the action of 
heat. I left this glass syphon in it this morn¬ 
ing while explaining it to the boys and Gen¬ 
eral Gresham ; there is nothing in it to in¬ 
jure the little meddler, but I presume it flew 
suddenly in his face and caused a slight 
smarting sensation.” Siah crept mournfully 
down-stairs, without speaking a word. 

“ Really, Dick,” said Dolly, when the boy 
had left them, “ don’t you think it is a little 
dangerous to experiment so much here ? 
You know I never dare trust Bertie up here 
alone, and the younger boys are curious ? ” 

“ They are gentlemen,” said Dick, “ and 
would not be guilty of meddling with the 
property of others.” 

“ We had an accident, or almost one, the 


Siah Junior s Experiment . 203 

other day,” said Dolly, “ and poor Melissy 
dreads to sweep here since.” 

“ What was it ? ” 

“ Come down and let us explain the little 
scare, and I will tell you.” 

“ See here fellows,” said Dick, after Siah’s 
experiment had been explained to the house¬ 
hold, “Cousin Dolly says our room is a sort 
of perpetual Gunpowder Plot, and I want 
to hear about it.” 

“ It was last sweeping day,” said Dolly, 
quite unconscious that her curls were yet 
hanging about her shoulders, and the fright 
had called her out in a becoming dressing 
sacque, “ Melissy went up and cleaned the 
‘ upper deck ’ as usual, and also as usual 
brought down the dirt to burn in the 
kitchen stove. I was arranging the parlor, 
when I heard scream after scream. Miss 
Lucinda had gone to market, and I hurried 
down as quickly as possible; poor Melissy 
was holding on to the table; some glass 
chimneys and dishes were shattered on the 


204 


Doctor Dick . 


floor, and the red hot stove, or range 
covers, were burning holes on the oppo¬ 
site side of the room. I picked them up 
and found that Melissy had deposited the 
dust, and put on the covers; before she 
could turn about the top of the range flew 
in different directions, one portion just 
escaping the girl’s head ; the kitchen lamps 
were shattered, dishes broken, and poor 
Melissy nearly frightened out of her 
wits.” 

“ What did she say ? ” asked Dick. 

“ Ah, shure Miss Dolly, it’s not safe to 
be touching their room Miss, with all their 
murderin’ things around ; I thought I was 
killed dead intirely.” 

“ Dick, you must be more careful,” said 
his mother. 

“ I think ” said Reggie, “ that Dicks’ chem¬ 
icals were not to blame. I remember see¬ 
ing the boys playing with a box of per¬ 
cussion caps. 

r ‘ Oh yes,” said Charlie, “ we spilled them, 


Si ah yuniors Experiment . 


205 


didn’t we Ned, and we only found about 
half of them.” 

“ I wonder, Doctor Warrington, that you 
are alive, and cheerful,” said Colonel Brent¬ 
ford. 

“ Not only that,” said the Doctor, “ but so 
happy with my boys that I do not want to 
spare them.” 

“ That subject will not disturb us for the 
present,” said General Gresham. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


AN EXCURSION TO WEST BEACH. 



HE next evening when the family 
were gathered about in the parlor 
once more, Harvard Budd surprised the 
party by saying that it would give him 
great pleasure if his friends would accept 
an invitation to a winter picnic. 

“ Delightful,” exclaimed Dolly. 

“ Where ? where ? where ? ” asked the 
boys. 

“ We have shown our friends about Cam¬ 
bridge and Boston,” said Mr. Budd, “ and 
now I am quite sure that General Gresham 
and the Colonel would like to see our sum- 


An Excursion to West Beach . 207 

• / 

mer home, where we have enjoyed so much 

for two or three seasons, and without wait¬ 
ing for permission I wrote to our man and 
wife to be in readiness for a party at ten 
o’clock to-morrow. If you have more agree¬ 
able plans do not hesitate to say so.” 

Every one thought it would be delightful 
if thq day was warm, and it promised well 
for early spring. Doctor Warrington urged 
General Gresham to go by all means, or 
he would be unable to understand the num¬ 
erous allusions he was sure to hear in the 
future. 

“ I should enjoy it no doubt, but I dislike 
to leave you, Warrington.” 

“ Never mind that; you have given me 
work enough to last every moment of your 
absence, since you insist on having a long 
bill of expenses.” 

Much to the delight of Reggie, his father 
had requested the Doctor to prepare a com¬ 
plete list of expenditures since the boys 
were entrusted to him. Reggie himself had 


2 o8 


Doctor Dick. 


a partial record' in his own account book, 
but the poor fellow was quite sure it did 
not represent more than half of the actual 
amount. 

So it was arranged that the doctor should 
spend a quiet day under the care of Aunt 
Axy, while the family, including Miss 
Lucinda and Siah junior, visited Beverly 
Farms. Professor Huntley winked hard 
when invited, said something about missing 
lessons and lectures, but finally agreed that 
the boys deserved to be excused, and al¬ 
though he could not join them, Marion 
should do so and represent the family. 
Doctor H. consented to join them provided 
he should be permitted to return before 
dark. 

As the plans were already made for 
the return trip by the five p. m. train, all 
entered heartily into it. 

“We must provide a substantial lunch/' 
said the practical Dolly, well knowing the 
appetites of her boys. 


An Excursion to West Beach . 209 

“ Certainly,” said Marion, “ I will make a 
raid on the cook.” 

“ Don’t burden yourselves with anything,” 
said Mr. Budd. “ Our people will attend to 
that, in fact, they are rather fond of this sort 
of thing.” The story of the excursion we 
find recorded in two places. Dolly wrote a 
long letter to her friend Cora Birney in 
Vassal*, describing it; and Doctor Dick who 
corresponded regularly with Mrs. Van Cleve, 
Jack’s mother, told that lady in his own 
fashion. Both letters seem necessary to us. 
Let Dolly tell her story first. 

“ My Dearest Cora : 

“ While you are puzzling your brain over 
problems concerning the earth or the 
heavens above, we rebels have enjoyed a hol¬ 
iday. Of course you know all about the 
return of Colonel Brentford, and General 
Gresham — stop a moment — no, you do 
not. We have been too busy to write. 
Well it was a great surprise and joy to us 
all. Mrs. Miller came with them, and Reg- 


210 


Doctor Dick . 


gie knew nothing of it until he was seated 
by his father’s side at the dinner table. The 
first day after their arrival the gentlemen 
spent in visiting the colleges, and calling on 
friends. You know General Gresham is a 
Harvard graduate, a classmate of several 
leading men. Colonel Brentford is a Mich¬ 
igan University man, and of course found 
much to interest him. Mrs. Miller and I 
went into Boston to see some of her friends, 
and in the evenings we were all together at 
our house. You don’t know how thoughtful 
and kind Mr. Budd is ; he is an unspoiled 
man of wealth. I know we both were dis¬ 
posed to laugh at him at first, but he grows 
better every day. 

“ ‘ Budd the magnificent,’will make a fine 
man I think if Dick does tease him unmer¬ 
cifully. No one else would have thought any¬ 
thing about General Gresham’s interest in 
our seaside home but Mr. Budd, and he ar¬ 
ranged quietly the loveliest little spring time 
excursion you ever knew. His family are in 


An Excursion to West Beach . 211 


Europe still, his brother being obliged to 
give up study on account of some trouble 
with his eyes; and his sisters being anxious 
to see ‘ dear, delightful Paris.’ I am afraid 
Harvard Budd does not find much pleasure 
in the society of his sisters. Good-natured, 
fashionable girls, they ‘adore the German,’ 
‘ dote on music,’ and think strong-minded 
girls who study science, or go to college, 
‘ absurdly booky.’ 

“ I was not sorry when they went to 
Europe, although I am sorry for the boys; 
a good sister can do so much for a brother. 
Do you know I am sometimes afraid that I 
am not doing enough for our boys; it is a 
great responsibility to be the only girl among 
so many, but when one is honest, true, kind, 
and thoughtful, one has done about all one 
can for them. 

“ Now for our picnic. When Mr. Budd 
announced it, or rather invited us, I was 
eager to go. You see I never can forget 
our happy days down there; how you en- 


212 


Doctor Dick . 


joyed it last year! Papa insisted on our 
going, and when I proposed taking a lunch 
Mr. Budd said, ‘ No ; their people expected 
us.’ You remember Bixby and his wife 
who live in a little cottage and look after 
Mr. Budd's place ? At ten o’clock we all 
left the Eastern station in Boston, and to 
our surprise we had the car to ourselves. 
Mr. Budd senior is a director of the road, 
and of course it was easily arranged. Doctor 
H. was full of fun and jokes, as usual, and 
Dick was very attentive to Marion Huntley. 
She is very interesting, as I have told you, 
and like myself, motherless. At Salem the 
boys remembered the Peace sisters, and 
Mrs. Miller wished we had time to see them. 
It was a charming day; Dr. H. said that 
‘ Budd had sent a private message to the 
Weather Bureau, requesting them to grind 
out an unusual supply of sunshine.’ It 
really seemed brighter than usual, and all 
along the shore we saw the promises of 
pleasant days to come. 


An Excursion to West Beach . 213 

“ At the little station which you know so 
well, Bixby met us, and immediately pro¬ 
ceeded to put two large hampers into his 
‘ team,’ while Mr. Budd assisted us all into a 
large covered wagon or ‘ barge,’ as they are 
called here. It was a little muddy there, and 
we were glad to save our tramp to the 
house. 

Once there we were surprised to find 
the large diningroom thrown open, a huge 
fire burning on the hearth, and the sea out¬ 
side tempting us as it did last year. 

. “ Miss Lucinda hurried away to see her 
brother’s family, and arrange for a call at the 
cottage, which Mr. Budd said we might 
make after lunch. ‘ I wanted you to come 
here first, sir,’ said he to General Gresham, 

‘ and £et the view from our windows. It is 
very good also from the cottage, but quite 
unlike this.’ Then the boys began to talk. 
Resrode said, ‘ Father, there is the boat- 
house.’ ‘ And there is our island,’ cried 
Bertie. ‘ And Josiah walking up the beach 


214 


Doctor Dick . 


just as be used to do,’ said Ned. ‘ And 
that is the Rebel’s Roost, General,’ added 
Dick. ‘ And over here, uncle, is the very 
spot where Lex fell in the water.’ ‘ And 
there is Baker’s Island.’ 

“ ‘ In mercy spare the poor man,’ said 
Mrs. Miller. We were noisy and happy. 
The house, of course, was not yet open, but 
Mr. Budd lighted up the darkened parlors, 
and showed his guests the pretty library, 
while Mrs. Miller, Marion and I strolled 
down on the shore, followed by the boys. 

“ ‘ Budd says you must wait until after 
lunch before you go over to the cottage,’ 
said Dick, who joined Marion soon after 
leaving the house. Mrs. Miller and I crept 
out on a rock, where we used to perch last 
season, and sat down for a quiet talk. 

“ Do you suppose we can all come here 
again this season ? ” I asked. 

“ ‘ I don’t know, dear,’ she said in that 
tender fashion of hers, taking my hand in 
her own. ‘ Our lives seem to be strangely 


An Excursion to West Beach . 215 

unfolded to us. When the war beo^an we 
had never met, now I fancy it would be 

hard to find our world the same without 

/ 

each other.’ 

“ ‘ I will not think of it without you, dear 
Mrs. Miller,’ I said. ‘ I used to be so 
lonely, now it is all different. I am never 
alone when I know you are living some¬ 
where.’ 

“ ‘ That is the test of friendship, Dolly 
dear. We feel sure of our friends whether, 
we see them or hear from them; they are 
ours when we call.’ 

Now tell me what you think of papa; is 
he weaker, or am I growing nervous and 
fanciful ? ’ 

“ She hesitated a moment, and then said : 

* Dear child, only God knows. Sometimes 
I think he suffers more than he cares to 
have us see, and yet he is even more cheerful 
than ever.’ 

“ ‘ That is part of his religion,’ I said ; ‘it 
is hopeful and helpful, but mine, oh Mrs. 


2l6 


Doctor Dick . 


Miller, I must tell you as I told dear Cora 
so long ago, I dare not trust myself or my 
faith, when I think of the world without 
papa.’ 

“ ‘ Don’t anticipate sorrow, dear; your 
father’s God will give you strength to bear 
what is before you; and remember, Dolly, 
that you are' mine, my own dear loving girl, 
and so never alone. I have told your father 
so, and it pleased him, dear; tell me that 
you consent to be adopted, and then let us 
cheer up, or poor Mr. Budd will not thank 
me for spoiling your day.’ 

“ Do you wonder, Cora, that my eyes 
were red when we went back to the dining- 
room? No one seemed to notice it but 
Reggie, and he looked so anxious I was 
somewhat amused. The lunch proved to 
be a capital dinner. The hampers contained 
fish, flesh and fowl, and our appetites were 
sharpened by the sea air. Harvard Budd 
whispered to the General something 
concerning some rare wine in the cellar, 


An Excursion to West Beach . 2/7 

but the General promptly declined. 
‘ I would not order without your permission,’ 
said Mr. Budd, ‘ for I know the Doctor’s 
views on the subject.’ 

“ While we were at dinner Miss Lucinda 
returned in time to make the coffee, and 
Siah junior fairly beamed with delight. We 
soon learned that the cause of it was the ap¬ 
pearance of a new baby in his father’s house. 
Bertie heard the tidings first, and immedi¬ 
ately ran away to see what he called ‘ a 
fresh baby.’ Josiah senior, our old friend 
and your admirer, Cora, received our con¬ 
gratulations in the drollest manner, and 
when Dick took up a collection, amounting 
to some ten dollars, the papa startled us all 
by saying he had named it Dolly Gresham.” 

“ ‘ Why Gresham ? ’ asked Dick laughing. 

“ ‘ Why, you see, sir, had it have been a 
boy I was thinking to call it Warrington, for 
his honor, the Doctor, but its being a girl I 
kind of put the two names together, of the 
young lady and her cousins. She’s been 


2l8 


Doctor Dick . 

mighty kind to my woman, and that there 
young gentleman,’ pointing to Reggie, ‘ has 
been about as kind spoken and clever as 
you ever see.’ 

“ ‘ Good for you, Josiah,’ shouted Dick. 

‘ Now, Dolly, you and Reggie can trot out 
a silver cup.” 

I propose that the party be permitted to 
donate the cup as a double compliment,’ 
said Harvard Budd. I thought he wished 
to make it easier for Reggie and myself, but 
I was vexed nevertheless. One can’t help 
feeling a little proud, you know. I said, ‘ oh, 
no, since my cousin and I are thus honored 
we must do the proper thing, although I am 
no believer in silver cups where they would 
only prove troublesome. I should prefer, if 
Reggie ♦consents, to make Josiah’s wife a 
present of a new carriage for the little one, 
for I remember the last one was well worn 
out.’ 

“ ‘ A carriage it shall be,’ said Reggie. 

“ ‘ And my funds,’ said Dick, ‘ shall be 


An Excursion to West Beach. 219 

deposited in the bank unless otherwise 
ordered, eh, Josiah ? ’ 

“ ‘ As the ladies and gentlemen please,’ 
answered he, touching his hat. ‘ I have had 
the best of luck ever since they first came 
here.’ 

“ Then we went down to the cottage and 
showed General Gresham our rooms, the 
railway prepared by Wally, our home-made 
side-board, and papa’s cheerful quarters. 
Doctor H. teased Miss Lucinda about sell¬ 
ing the cottage to him, and Colonel Brent¬ 
ford was so charmed with the surroundings 
that he promised to come on and spend a 
fortnight during the summer. Marion 
Huntley’s father has a little house on Cape 
Cod where he studies sea wonders and ex¬ 
periments the livelong summer, but Marion 
declares she will not go down there alone. 
We returned to town at five o’clock, having 
had a delightful day, neither too cold or too 
warm. 

“ Harvard Budd called it a winter picnic, 


220 


Doctor Dick . 


because the house was yet in its winter dress, 
but we voted him wrong and sang, ‘ I love 
the spring,’ and other cheering songs, while 
Doctor H. wrote an impromptu ‘ owed to 
spring,’ which we were obliged to promise 
should not be reported for the papers, before 
he would read it. When he alluded to the 
‘sniffles and snuffles we owed the dear, and 
were always anxious to pay,’ our car rang 
with laughter, for Dick and Marion, to say 
nothing of Charlie and Walter were victims 
of severe colds, and enjoyed it very 
much. 

“ Charlie’s cold, was so bad papa had grave 
doubts about his going on the excursion, 
but Doctor H. said ‘ Let him go ; an old 
doctor and a young one can either cure 
or finish him.’ Well, the bright day ended, 
and I liked it all the better because 
Josiah’s family were richer for our visit, 
and Bixby’s children had a treat. 

“ General Gresham was pleased with 
ever)thing. He seems very sad, poor 


An Excursion to West Beach . 221 


man. I do hope he will not take our 
boys from us at present. 

“Write soon, Cora, and don’t become 
too learned and deep for your loving 

“ Dolly.” 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


DICKSIANA. 

S Doctor Dick’s letter was written 
some time after Dolly’s it properly 
belongs here. Mrs. Van Cleve had learned 
to regard Dick as a young man worthy 
of love and honor. 

Her own son, Jack Montgomery, had 
never fancied his step-father, and his mother 
tried in vain to overcome the young man’s 
aversion. Like Mrs. Miller she did not 
live for herself. Her wealth gave her 
grand opportunities, and her anxiety for 
young men about Jack’s age, led her to 
regard all her son’s friends as her own. 
While “ the boys,” as both mothers called 



222 


Dicksiona . 


223 


them, were attending school in New York, 
Mrs. Van Cleve was constantly planning 
something for their pleasure or profit. 
Now, while they were under Doctor War¬ 
rington’s care, she felt, as she said, “ quite 
easy about them all.” 

After the pleasant summer at Beverly 
Shore, she corresponded regularly with the 
young people, chiefly, however, with Dick, 
who rattled off letters as he did words, 
and found his large correspondence pleas¬ 
ing and profitable. Sometimes Jack and 
Dick would send a joint letter to New 
York; sometimes all the young people 
would write a few lines and send a journal 
of doings similar to the one kept for 
General Gresham. 

“ Will you write home to-day, Jack,” 
asked Doctor Dick, about a week after 
the picnic at Beverly. 

“No, I think not. This Greek is too 
many for me. You write and let me add 
a P. S.” 


Doctor Dick. 


224 

“ All right,” said Dick; and long be¬ 
fore Jack had mastered his lesson Dick 
had written the following letter: 

“Dear Mrs. Van Cleve :—Have you 
heard the glorious news ? Reggie's, father, 
once Colonel, now General Gresham, has 
been here! ! ! ! Mrs. Miller and Cora’s 
friend Colonel Brentford came with him, 
and of course we had a merry time. I 
think you know Mrs. Miller, a distant 
relative of mine, and a great favorite with 
this family. 

“ The whole thing was a surprise. Miss 
Dolly managed it well, and we were all 
seated at table when Reggie suddenly dis¬ 
covered a loneMost sire in his next door 

O 

neighbor, who had been introduced to him 
as ‘ General Graham.’ I never saw the 
dear old doctor so overcome. He has 
kept his feelings pent up so long, when 
good news arrived, they nearly upset him. 
As soon as the General's hair was brushed 
from his brow and his coat unbuttoned 


Dicksiana . 225 

as he usually wore it before the war, 
the boys rushed at him ; I wanted to my¬ 
self. 

“ The Doctor had found him out up¬ 
stairs, and my sly boots maternal had en¬ 
tertained him at the Woodbox before 
coming on. We had nearly devoured 
Colonel Brentford when we first saw him, 
and he seemed unusually talkative at table; 
but as soon as General Gresham was discov¬ 
ered, our gallant Colonel ‘ Grit ’ was quite 
neglected. Here we had not only a long- 
lost, much-worried-about father, but a real, 
live Rebel General, who knew the inside 
of Richmond and the doings of the Con¬ 
federates as we know our primers. 

“ The Huntleys came in to help us re¬ 
joice, Dolly summoned her great friend, 
the author, Doctor H-, who was a class¬ 

mate, and we jubilated in fine style until 
a late hour. 

“ The gentlemen went sight-seeing the 
following day, while the ladies ‘ visited/ I 



226 


Doctor Dick . 


believe. The next day our entire party 
accepted Budd’s invitation to visit our old 
haunts at Beverly Farms. 

“ Budd is magnificent, truly munificent 
also. The whole thing was gotten up in 
fine style. His old family servants pre¬ 
pared a fine dinner which we did com¬ 
plete justice to, and thus prepared our¬ 
selves for explorations. 

“ Such good appetites! Do you know, 
my dear friend, that I intend to urge 
eating as a duty when I begin to practice ? 
How can people do good solid work on 
a diet of cobwebs and air? 

“ That is one of Dolly’s strong points. 
She has not one silly finikin notion of 
daintiness. When we came here Miss 
Huntley had; she had heard much said 
about ‘ coarse appetites,’ and nearly all the 
women of her acquaintance thought it 
genteel ‘ to be small eaters.’ I have had 
some quiet fun watching the process of 
conversion in her case. She is a down- 


Dicks iana. 


227 


right good girl, you understand, but all 
these things have been part of her train¬ 
ing, or want of training, poor girl. You 
know she is motherless, and the Professor 
loves her dearly, but never knows what 
is going on among his women-kind. 
Dolly’s strong but quiet assertion that ‘ her 
heart beats were much too weak if she did 
not give her body fuel enough to get up 
the requisite amount of steam,’ rather 
surprised Marion. When we went for a 
walk, she invariably came in exhausted, 
while Dolly was fresh and rosy. Now, 
she enjoys a substantial meal of nourish¬ 
ing food, and has entirely given up her 
lunches of cocoa-nut cakes and macaroons, 
with now and then a bit of angel cake. 
All this is Dolly’s work, and she does 
not know it. 

“ At the Farms that day it was Marion 
who requested Budd to send her a slice 
of turkey for the second time, and I felt 
much like laughing, but didn’t dare. Only 


228 


Doctor Dick . 


a short time ago, she thought it ‘vulgar 
to have a gross appetite.’ 

“ General Gresham was much pleased 
with our old quarters, and he has prom¬ 
ised to permit us all to enjoy them again 
this year if possible. 

“Your friend Joshua inquired for you; 
his wife has presented him with a daughter 
named Dolly-Gresham. I am quite troubled 
about the slight to the Miller family; how¬ 
ever, Dolly comforts me by saying if the 
little imp is very naughty, she will call it 
‘ Dicksiana.’ 

“ It was fun to watch Miss Lucinda on 
that occasion. Fleshy as she is, she 
trotted about over to Josiah’s to see to 
the baby and the mother, then to the cot¬ 
tage to make sure that the windows were 
all secure, then to the boat-house, and at 
last puffing and panting to the Budd man¬ 
sion, where she reluctantly consented to 
dine. 

“ We disliked to pass through Salem 


Dicksiana . 


229 


without seeing the Peace sisters; x but 
spring is here, summer will soon follow, and 
then we will visit the dear old ladies and 
Salem, wickedly called by some ‘ the city 
of the unburied dead.’ 

“ I say wickedly, for I have been look¬ 
ing up her past history and present good 
works, and I think the Essex Institute is 
about as lively and useful a body of scien¬ 
tists as we have in America. As Doctor 
Warrington says, ‘Salem makes little stir 
within her borders, but her sons and 
daughters are prominent members of soci¬ 
ety wherever they may go.’ Next summer 
we will ‘ do ’ Salem, also the quaint old 
settlement of Marblehead. 

“ We returned safely from our trip, gave 
our friends a concert in our home parlors, 
and at last bade them good bye reluctantly. 

“ General Gresham has gone to Rich¬ 
mond to arrange some business matters, 
and Colonel Brentford will remain in Wash¬ 
ington for some time, previous to starting 


230 


Doctor Dick . 


West. He has already been requested to 

join a leading law firm in W-, and 

may do so. A prominent man from Mich¬ 
igan told Jack yesterday that he was 
considered the best criminal lawyer in the 
State, when the war broke out. 

“Jack is doing well, better than last 
term, and you will be delighted to hear 
that he has joined our young men’s so¬ 
ciety. We forbid drinking and all habits 
which will tend to make us less than 
manly men. 

“ Dolly is very busy; gets on famously 
with her music and painting, takes care 
of the doctor and Bertie, and also keeps 
us in order. She is very happy; she 
would be anywhere, in fact; yet I fancy 
she misses her organ practice in the old 
church at Georgetown. 

“ Bertie is still far from strong, al- 
though General Gresham was much pleased 
with his robust appearance. He goes to 
a little school now and is not quite as 



Dicksiana . 


231 


dreamy and dull as last year. He is 
much interested in General Scott, who is 
becoming quite an infirm cat. In fact, 
Bertie chops his meat for him now, as he 
has lost some of his teeth. Miss Lucinda 
loves her pet as fondly as ever, although 
‘Siah* junior’ is a care and trial to her 
in these days. 

“ Of course you know that Lex is in 
Georgetown, the hired servant of Mrs. Fol- 
lansbee, my aunt. Wonders will never 
cease. The black rogue will soon perform 
some antic which will cause his discharge, 
although his presence saves my darling 
mother many a step. 

“ I hope you are busy and happy this 
season; I am sure you made it delight¬ 
ful for us all in New York. Our‘Doctor’ 
who is not much given to speech-making, 
remarked the other day that we fellows 
would be doubly responsible if we went 
wrong, for we were favored with such 
superior women in our own families. Fie 


232 


Doctor Dick . 


is right too. I must close, dear Mrs. 
Van Cleve. Reggie, Jack, Budd and 
myself are working now to make up lost 
recitations during the visit of our friends. 
“Your sincere friend, 

“ Dick Miller.” 


CHAPTER XIX. 


PRESIDENT LEX. 

RS. MILLER was very anxious to 
reach home after her Cambridge visit • 

O J 

knowing Aunt Follansbee’s peculiarities, 

and the mischievous tendencies of Lex, she 

was quite sure the household machinery 

would not work well in her absence. 

As soon as possible General Gresham left 

for Richmond, while Colonel Brentford took 

a room at Willard’s. His evenings were 

frequently spent at the Woodbox and he it 

was who first discovered the tricks of his old 

or young servant Lex. 

Aunt Follansbee was a devoted friend of 

Colonel Grit; she would not call him by any 

233 



234 


Doctor Dick . 


other name, and whenever his card was 
sent up she immediately exclaimed, “ Show 
him up at once, Lex.” It must be confessed 
that the old lady was sometimes rather tedious, 
but Colonel Brentford was a gentleman in 
every respect, and seldom considered himself 
when he could make a fellow creature happy. 
He enjoyed his long talks with Mrs. Miller 
and the Doctor, and often wished to remain 
in the library with them, but he argued, “ I 
am strong and well compared with this poor 
old lady who spends all her time in her room ; 
I should be happy to give her a moment’s 
pleasure.” Evening after evening he re-, 
peated the same stories or answered the same 
questions, until Doctor Miller would inter¬ 
fere and say pleasantly, “ Now, Aunt, you 
must not have any more conversation to¬ 
night, or you will not sleep; come, Colonel, 
I have a little business for you.” The old 
lady secretly feared the Doctor, although she 
persistently worried and found fault with his 
devoted wife. “ It is one of the strangest 

O 


President Lex . 


235 


phases we encounter,” said the Doctor to his 
wife, “ and yet it is so common it should not 
be strange, that childishness in old people 
generally shows itself in a system of petty 
and harassing annoyances toward those who 
are nearest and most faithful in their minis¬ 
trations.” 

“ I should not mind the fretfulness,” said 
Mrs. Miller, “ nor the constant demands on 
time and strength, if she did not greet every 
one else amiably and invariably represent 
herself as neglected and underfed. Yester¬ 
day, I found a box of cake and other food 
which she had hidden away, and her sole 
excuse to me, was that ‘ we starved her.’” 

Doctor Miller laughed. “ Nevermind, my 
darling,” said he, taking his wife’s sweet sad 
face between his hands for a kiss, “ you are a 
brave little woman to bear it as you do, and 
some day you and I may require just such 
attentions. I only wish you would tell me 
more frequently about her exactions and let 
me put an end to her tyranny. Auntie is at 


2 j6 Doctor Dick . 

her best when she thinks I am near.” 

One of Mrs. Follansbee’s pet fancies was 
spending money on Lex, and as the little 
hypocrite told her plausible stories, he was 
never without extra pocket money. 

The old lady firmly believed that the boy 
had saved up nearly ten dollars which he 
proposed putting in the bank, consequently 
she would frequently present him with a 
little change. It required a great many gifts 
to make up the desired sum. When Lex 
was requested to bring in the tin can which 
he said contained his hoard, he made various 
excuses ; sometimes, “ Mrs. Miller had tole 
him to go an errand jis as quick as his own • 
missis could spare himsometimes “ he had 
broke into the sum to lend Jimmy Daily a 
little, ’caus his folks were sick.” 

Now Jimmy Daily was the sexton of the 
church ; his family was large, his children 
always sick, and his needs many, conse¬ 
quently this story touched Mrs. Follansbee 
and she urged Lex to take two dollars with 


President Lex. 


237 


her compliments to Jimmy, but the gift must 
be kept a profound secret from Mrs. Miller.” 

“ It is not best to tell people every time 
you feel disposed to give away a little money, 
Lex,” said the old lady. 

“ Dat’s so, Missis; de good book say don’t 
tell your left hand when your right one gives 
your poor friends a little money.” 

“It’s something like that, Lex, but I don’t 
think it reads just that way,” said the invalid, 
knitting her brows, as she tried to recall the 
once familiar words. 

This conversation took place one day when 
Mrs. Miller was busy with a seamstress pre¬ 
paring a new dressing-gown for the old lady, 
who was much exercised when she found the 
facings of one she wore a little frayed ; and 
no argument of her niece could induce her 
to wear any of the numerous garments in her 
wardrobe. She wished for a new one; it 
must be bright and gay; as for the expense, 
she didn’t care, only let it be of the best 
quality. Mrs. Miller little dreamed that Lex 


238 


Doctor Dick . 


had grown wicked as he grew long; his polite, 
respectful answers to her, and his obsequi¬ 
ousness to her aunt, led her to trust him not 
only in household matters, but with the keys, 
in her absence. 

“ I met Lex on the avenue just now,” said 
Colonel Brentford, one evening, after greet¬ 
ing the ladies. 

41 On the avenue ? ” exclaimed Mrs. Miller; 
“ I thought he had gone to prayer-meeting. 
Lex is quite a singer, you know, and is con¬ 
sidered an important member of the choir at 
the colored church.” 

“ The colored church here in Georgetown ? ” 
asked the colonel. 

“ Certainly.” 

“It is now long after the usual hour for 
service,” replied the colonel, “and I met him 
on Pennsylvania Avenue as I came over.” 

Mrs. Follansbee was evidently surprised, 
but did not me cm to betray it to her 
niece. 

“ I dare say he has gone to buy me some 


President Lex . 


239 


white grapes/’said she; “I mentioned it to¬ 
day.” 

“Why Aunt, dear,” said Mrs. Miller, “you 
had white grapes at luncheon, and you know 
I always select them for you myself.” 

“ It doesn’t signify,” said the old lady; “if I 
choose to have my own servant go out, I 
suppose he can do so.” 

Mrs. Miller did not reply, while Colonel 
Brentford ventured to remark that Lex was 
neither truthful nor honest, and he should 
regret to see her imposed upon. 

The Colonel’s soothing words quieted the 
invalid, and she ventured to confess her efforts 
in behalf of Lex. Mrs. Miller looked pained 
but did not speak, while the Colonel drew 
from Mrs. Follansbee numerous facts about 
money she had given him. 

“ I strongly mistrust,” said he, “ that Lex 
is now plotting some mischief, and he well 
knows that I understand all his tricks.” 

The Colonel left quite early, promising to 
keep an eye on the boy; in the meantime,he 


240 


Doctor Dick . 


urged the ladies to avoid asking Lex any 
question, let him tell what he might, con¬ 
cerning his absence. 

O 

Lex let himself in with his latch-key, after 
the family had retired. The next morning 
he was very attentive to his mistress, and she 
had quite forgotten the mistrust of the even¬ 
ing before. Not so, Mrs. Miller. 

“ I was later’n usual las’ night, Miss,” said 
he, as he stood at her chair near the break¬ 
fast table, waiting for her to prepare her 
aunt’s breakfast. “ You see, our church folks 
is gwine to give a concert, and me an’ the 
’sp’rano has got to sing a duet.” 

Mrs. Miller replied simply with a question¬ 
ing “ Ah ? ” 

“Yes, Miss; you see de books in dat libr’y 
is mighty' bad, and de concert is ter buy some 
new ones.” 

“You may take this up now and remain 
with Mrs. Follansbee until I come,” said 
Mrs. Miller. 

Lex was remarkably good that day; he an- 


President Lex . 


241 


ticipated the old lady’s wishes, urged Mrs. 
Miller to let him perform some of her 
duties, and was so extremely careful in little 
things, that Doctor Miller expressed his 
surprise. 

t “ I think,” said Mrs. Miller, “ that the re¬ 
markable and unusual goodness portends a 
storm.” 

“ How so ? ” 

“ Colonel Brentford may be able to ex¬ 
plain when he arrives.” 

“ If Colonel Grit has the matter in charge,” 
said the doctor, “ I shall feel quite secure. 
“ I am constantly in terror lest those wild 
eyes may suddenly cease to flash on us, or 
flash in a disastrous manner. Only yester¬ 
day our milk woman stopped me in the street, 
and said: ‘ Massa Doctor, you has been 

mighty good to us, and so’s de Missis, now I 
jis want to ask you to keep yer eyes wide 
open, ’caus dat little nigger you’as got up 
dar, aint no ’count, ’deed he isn’t, massa.’ 

“ Speak out Jane,” said I, “ if he has troubled 


Doctor Dick. 


242 

you in any way, I will attend to it at once.” 

“ ‘ Law sakes, Massa Doctor, pears like you 
don’t understand he ain’t a gwine to notis 
common black folks like us, laws no, he 
’spises us; but you keep your eyes open, 
Massa Doctor, ’caus dere’s plenty o’ kashun 
for it, dat’s all I kin say.’ ” 

“ I am so sorry aunt has taken such a 
fancy to him,” said Mrs. Miller. 

That evening Lex again asked permission 
to go to rehearsal, and Mrs. Follansbee 
consented. 

About eight in the evening Colonel Brent¬ 
ford appeared and found the Doctor in his 
study. 

“ Can you come with me for an hour or 
two ? ” said he. 

“ I think so,” said the Doctor, “ if you will 
det me say good-bye to my wife. We were 
anticipating a fine time reading this number 
of the Atlantic , after aunt falls asleep.” 

“ Say good-bye, certainly,” laughed the 
Colonel, “ but do not report me for duty up 


Preside7it Lex . 


243 


stairs; you and I must look after Lex to¬ 
night.” 

“ Ah, ha! we hunt, do we ? What new 
evil has he been engaged in ? ” 

“Say farewell, and I will tell you as we 
ride, for I have a carriage at the door.” 

The gentlemen drove rapidly away in the 
direction of Washington. After some time 
the carriage stopped, and a gentleman en¬ 
tered who was introduced as Mr. Lons:. 

“ This gentleman has been engaged in 
watching a certain friend of ours for several 
days. When I saw Lex purchasing a showy 
watch and chain the other day, I mistrusted 
mischief, and you will soon find that I was 
correct.” 

“Here we are,” said Mr. Long. “ Now, 
gentlemen, walk this way; step as easy as 
you can, this house is supposed to be closed ; 
the lady who owns it said she never wanted 
to come to America again, if the South was 
defeated. She is not likely to return. Hist, 
now! Doctor, lean on this brick facing, and 


244 


Doctor Dick . 


look in at the star in the wooden shutter ; 
Colonel, come this way please, here is 
your post of observation. Queer sight in a 
deserted house, is it not ? ” 

The gentlemen could not answer. Both 
were busily engaged in watching the group 
within. Some six or eight colored boys and 
girls from thirteen to twenty years of age 
were seated around a table on which candles 
were burning. It was a back basement room, 
and the paper which had been pasted over 
the small openings in the solid wooden shut¬ 
ters had been removed. Mr. Long, the de¬ 
tective, knew how and why. 

“ Now, gentlemen,” said Mr. Long, in a 
whisper, “they are making too much noise 
over that whiskey punch to hear us, and I 
want to know if you identify any of the party. 

“ Yes,” said both. 

“ The slim boy with the scarlet necktie, I 
presume ? ” 

“ Yes,” said Doctor Miller, “he is employed 
in my house.” 


President Lex . 


*45 


“ Lex, as large as life,” said the Colonel. 

“ If you will wait patiently,” said the detec¬ 
tive, “ you will hear some remarkable speech¬ 
making, after the gentleman at the head of 
the table has told his story and taken punch 
enough.” 

“ Poor Dolly,” said the Doctor, softly, “ how 
much it would grieve her to see her pupil 
now.” 

The party now deposited on the table 
several mysterious packages which Lex, as 
master of ceremonies, examined and com¬ 
mented on. One girl produced a handsome 
cameo head, set in pearls. She told her story 
to the company, little dreaming that a detec¬ 
tive’s ear was hearing all, through a small 
aperture in the window-sash. 

“Ye see, I was mindin’ the baby, an’ I 
heard Missis tell Mis Fanny dat dis pin cost 
over a hundred dollars ; well, I jis takes a 
look at it when de ladies was at lunch, an’ I 
fixed de pin so t’would drop out. Well, 

Missis she put it on, and when she was play- 




2 /J.6 Doctor Dick . 

in’ wid de baby it fell on de carpet, but she 
didn’t see it; so I jis pick it up and put it in 
my stockin’ kinder quick ; den Missis went 
out fer a walk, an’ she fastened up her shawl 
and nebber looked in de glass once; she 
ain’t vain, ye know; he, he, he!”—Here all the 
company laughed long, and quite too loud 
for a secret club. — “ Well, when she come 
back she missed it, and she felt awful. She 
said her pa sent it from way off — Flowers, or 
some such place, and — ” 

“ Florence,” suggested Lex, with a pom¬ 
pous look ; “ my young gentleman talk a heap 
’bout Florence.” 

“Well, I jis look every place for dat pin, 
but I couldn’t find it, an here it’s foun’ now, 
ye see, — he, he, he !” 

“ Yer is mighty sharp, Mis’ Carline, deed 
you is,” said Lex in a patronizing tone. 
“ Dat pin is lost fo’ shure.” 

One after another these vagabonds dis¬ 
played their treasures, all taken from master 
or mistress. Not one of the company looked 




President Lex . 


2 47 


upon their acts as sinful; indeed, Carline ex¬ 
pressed the sentiments of the group when 
she said: 

“ It’s right to tote ’em off, deed ’tis ; Missis 
has got heaps of mighty nice things and it 
’taint no stealin’ for me to have some too.” 

“ Now, ladies and gentlemen, I’s your 
president, ye know, and it’s proper an’ right 
for me to do de hansum thing. My place 
is mighty soft, ye see; no dirty work, good 
does, plenty to eat, and money always roun’ 
loose. Well, ye see de ole woman she tinks 
a heap o’ me, and she says, soft like, ‘ Lex, 
brine: me the little red trunk under the 
bureau ; and I brings it, and then sez she 
‘ Lex, has yer got most ’nough to put in de 
bank ? ’ And says I ‘ No, Missus; had to lend 
some to Jim Daily.” At this the company 
tittered and laughed behind their hands. 

“ Yer done gone forgot that a kounterbu- 
shun was took up for Jim,” said a young 
negro.' 

“ Nebber you min’ dat kounterbushun ; de 


Doctor Dick . 


248 

ole woman don’t go ter colered meetin’, an* 
don’t you be a stoppin’ my speech, Duffy, 
wid your remarks; I is de president here, 
ain’t dat so, ladies and gentlemen ? ” Where¬ 
upon the company cried “ Go on; hole yer 
talk, Duffy. ” 

“ Well, I will perceed onward. When I 
said so, de ole woman, sez she, ‘ I am very 
anxious to have yer get some money in the 
bank, Lex, an’ here’s two dollars more.’ Well, 
she took it out of a big pile and I said I 
thanked her and seed her lock up de trunk, 
and she gave me de key to put in her bag. 
I dropped in a key, one I had, and I hep’ 
hern right safe. When I fix de fire — she 
always will have a fire, you see, hot or cold — 
she had on her night-cap an’ she couldn’t 
hear, an’ her ole eyes was shut an’ she 
couldn’t see, and—well, ladies and gentle¬ 
men, you jis know dat trunk walked right 
out long side o’ me, and dat two-dollar-bill 
growed mighty quick ; thar he is.” As Lex 
finished speaking, he threw a twenty-dollar 










































































































President Lex. 


249 


note on the table. His friends cheered and 
clapped in a subdued manner, while the 
observers outside longed to seize upon him 
at once. 

“ Are you satisfied, gentlemen ? ” said Mr. 
Long. 

“We shall be, when these young sinners 
are arrested in their career of crime,” said 
Doctor Miller. 

“ Wait one moment, gentlemen. Duffy 
is going to speak. He is a miserable fel¬ 
low, sixteen, and quite able to work, yet 
his poor old mother finds him in tobacco.” 

“ Gemmen,” said Duffy, rising, “ dis yere 
is a great okashen, ah’ I fer one tink we 
kullered folks is a gwine to be de bosses 
now. I ain’t a gwine to work any mo’; it’s 
110 sense; dis yere guvment has freed dis 
nigger, and dis guvment has got to pervide 
fer him; no mo’ slaves for me. My ole 
woman she sez to me, sez she, ‘ Duff, you 
jis come long here an’tote dese yer does’; 
and sez I, ‘ No, yer don’t, ole woman, I’s 


Doctor Dick . 


250 

a counterband now , and de workin’ days is 
over. Uncle Sam has got to keer for me, 
now.’ ” 

“ That is the creed of these rascals,” said 
Mr. Long. 

“ Missionaries are required here in Wash¬ 
ington,” said Dr. Miller. 

Duff was about to resume his remarks 
when Mr. Long gave a low whistle, and the 
door was suddenly thrown open by his as¬ 
sistants, already concealed in the dark hall. 

Confusion reigned, but the entire party 
was captured, and President Lex spent the 
night in a prison cell. 

All the honest and faithful colored peo¬ 
ple, who knew nothing of the truth, were 
indignant when it was reported that a large 
company of young people were arrested 
for playing a simple game of cards. 

It is never wise to condemn either public 
officers, or private individuals, without a 
full knowledge of the facts, and when it 
was at last known that a prominent govern- 


President Lex . 


25/ 

ment officer, like Dr. Miller, had been 
present, and was, to a certain extent, a 
victim of the rogues, public opinion changed 
and all the worthy colored people rejoiced 
to know such wickedness was punished. 

Mrs. Follansbee was quite overcome when 
Dr. Miller gave her a full account of the 
proceedings, and the sentence of the crimi¬ 
nals. In a few days her feeble mind had 
wandered away from Lex and his theft, 
for the kind doctor procured an odd little 
servant for her. The child, like Lex, was 
black and bright, but unlike him, she was 
not wicked. When very young she had 
fallen down a long flight of stairs and 
injured her spine, leaving her badly de¬ 
formed; although fourteen, she seemed only 
ten years of age. This child was, indeed, 
a blessing in the house. Dr. Warrington 
had been her faithful attendant through 
all her suffering, and Miss Dolly had 
taught her the use of her fingers; she could 
write and sew neatly, and although her 


Doctor Dick . 


252 

reading was somewhat peculiar, she man¬ 
aged to amuse Mrs. Follansbee. 

“ Here is your new servant, aunt,” said 
Mrs. Miller, as she ushered the small child 
into the room a few days after the departure 
of Lex. 

Mrs. Follansbee raised her head a little 
to discover her. She was so short and dark, 
it was a difficult matter; for the old lady 
would not have much light in her room. 

“ Come where I can see you better,” said 
the invalid. The child advanced, and stood 
by the lady’s chair, while she snapped her 
eyes rapidly, and twisted the corners of 
her check apron. 

“ What’s your name ? ” 

“ Dode, Missis.” 

“Are you strong?” 

“ No, Missis. 

“ Can you go up and down stairs ? ” 

“ Reckon so, Missis.” 

“ Can you read ? ” 

“ Miss Dolly teached me.” 


President Lex . 


253 


“ What do you know ? ” 

“Verses, Missis; heaps of ’em.” 

“ Let me hear you ; what kind of verses ? ” 
“ Goody verses, Missis.” 

Mrs. Miller was leaning on her aunt’s 
chair, watching the little dwarf with an 
amused smile. It pleased the old lady to 
question the child, and although Dode 
had been regularly hired, and a bargain 
made with her mother concerning wages, 
it would not injure any one to humor the 
old lady’s fancy, and let her think she 
was engaging a new servant. 

Dode was pleased to show her accom¬ 
plishments. She took a position directly 
opposite her mistress, and began to repeat 
*in a sing-song tone, with many peculiar 
gestures, and rolling of the eyes, some¬ 
thing which sounded like this-: 

“ Bress de Lawd de little chile 
Knowsshshure of luv, 

’Cause de bressed farther, 

Libein Heven ’tbove 


*54 


Doctor Dick . 


Lunely, pore, and suffrem 
Jesus keers fer me, 

Totes me in’s kind arms 
All his lub is free.” 

Dode paused, and made a low bow, 
which shook her woolly hair all over her 
face, until she looked like a black fuzzy ball 
with legs, and a blue-check apron. Suddenly, 
she drew her head up with a jerk, pushed the 
wool from her brow, and grinned with del ight. 

“ Know heaps more,” said she. 

“You’re as good as Punch and Judy,” 
said the old lady, who was smiling. “ I 
shall keep you, child, and my niece will 
arrange the sleeping for you.” 

“ Have you a copy of the verses you just 
recited?” asked Mrs. Miller. 

“Yes, Missis; got ’em in a book Miss 
Dolly giv’ me; I’ll fetch ’em.” 

Before any one could speak, Dode 
whisked from the room, and returned 
with a greasy and much-worn primer. The 
child pointed triumphantly to the verses, 


President Lex. 


255 


that are so simple we repeat them, lest 
some of our readers fail to- understand 
Dode’s oratory: 

“ Bless the Lord, each little child, 

Knows he’s sure of love, 

For his Heavenly Father 
Reigns in Heaven above. 

“ Lonely, poor and suffering, 

Jesus cares for me, 

Takes me in his kindly arms, 

And all his love is free.” 

When Mrs. Miller described Dode and 
her doings to the family at the Annex 
Dolly surprised them by producing a pic¬ 
ture of her, which the child’s mother had 
given her before she left home. 

“ She is real pretty, only her neck is too 
short,” said Bertie; and although the child 
did not understand the deformity, he had 
read correctly the little black face. Dode 
was pretty, for her goodness shone out. 
She was honest, truthful, and generally obedi¬ 
ent, but troubled with occasional fits of temper. 


CHAPTER XX. 


REST FOR THE WEARY. 

HEN General Gresham returned to 
Richmond, he found little to en¬ 
courage him; his most intimate friends 
were as poor as himself. It would require 
some capital to repair and rebuild either 
his sister’s house or his own. For some 
weeks he was tempted to reyerse his decision, 
and go North once more, but patient effort 
soon brought a promised reward. 

He was surprised one evening to find on 
his desk two letters from Boston, directed to 
him. The handwriting was not familiar. One 
proved to be from a Boston merchant, a 
friend of Dr. H-’s, who offered to loan 

256 



Rest For the Weary . 


257 


him a sum sufficient to rebuild the tobacco 
factory, which belonged to Judge Neville 
and himself, and the other letter was from 
two young friends of ours. 

General Gresham’s first impulse was, to 
refuse in polite terms the merchant’s offer; 
“ For,” said he, “ I might be unfortunate, and 
all my own personal losses would be as 
nothing compared with the disgrace of 
impoverishing another.” 

After reading the other letter or letters 
which were sent in one envelope, the 
general changed his views. 

“ Friends in need,” said he, “ and they are 
friends indeed. Bless that dear girl 1 she 
is one of ten thousand.” 

The dear girl referred to, wrote as follows: 

“ Dear Cousin Gresham : 

“ Papa desires me to enclose the follow¬ 
ing accounts, which you insisted upon. He 
says you must not permit them to trouble 
you, for he has a little sum secured to 


2 5 s 


Doctor Dick . 


him for life, and will not require any 
money for several years. 

“ And now permit me to trouble you with 
some personal matters. You know' that my 
dear mother left me six thousand dollars ; it 
is now invested in government bonds, and 
my dear papa insists on my using principal 
and interest as I think best. Will you 
oblige me by investing four thousand at 
least, in your business, giving me your note 
at the usual rate of interest ? "Please do 
this at your earliest convenience, as neither 
papa or myself are willing to keep the bonds 
in the house, and for the present, we do not 
have any bank account here. 

Your cousin, 

Dolly Warrington.” 

The second letter read as follows : 

“ Dear General : 

4 

“ I am not much given to business mat¬ 
ters, and in fact, feel thankful that it has 
been spared me. Just now, I have a little 


Rest For the Weary 259 

# 

matter on hand which I wish you would 
manage. When I entered Harvard, my 
mother’s aunt presented me with a check for 
two thousand dollars ; this money has been 
untouched, thanks to the generosity of my 
parents. Will you accept it as a loan for the 
sake of my regard for Reg ? I never had a 
brother, and yet he is one to me. I know he 
has seen some dark hours, because he is both 
proud and sensitive, and yet I would gladly 
share my last dollar with him. 

“You will be pleased to know that the 
service he has rendered Professor Huntley 
has won for him high praise, and already 
other gentlemen have requested him to aid 
them ; in fact, our dear Reg will pay his own 
expenses through college, and I believe I 
am more proud of it than he. 

“ Please consider this business confiden¬ 
tial, and do not hesitate to take my modest 
sum on your own terms. 

Your friend, 

Dick Miller.” 


Doctor Dick . 


260 
% 

General Gresham read and re-read these 
letters and more than once dashed away a 
tear as he penned his replies. 

Doctor Warrington urged him to accept 
all the offers thus generously given ; to send 
at once for Mrs. Neville, and begin life anew. 
“ Your old law practice may be gone,” wrote 
the Doctor, “ but my dear Gresham, your tal¬ 
ent will win it back again. My advice is, to 
take these young people of mine into part¬ 
nership, until our boys — you see I still say 
our —are grown, and then you may retire, 
and watch their progress.” 

This advice was taken ; the old tobacco 
factory was put in operation, Mrs. Neville 
was sent for as soon as her brother’s house 
was in order, and although she was not con¬ 
sidered strong enough to take charge of 
Bertie, she made a long visit to the family 
in Cambridge, and went to her home, thank¬ 
ful to be once more on American soil. 

In the course of a few weeks Colonel 
Brentford wrote that his decision for the 


Rest For the Weary . 


261 


future was made, so far as business matters 
were concerned. An old friend in Washing¬ 
ton had persuaded him to enter into partner¬ 
ship with him, and the firm of Stewart & 
Brentford were now ready for active work, 
either in selling real estate, negotiating 
loans, or attending to business in the courts. 
A postscript addressed to Reggie, gave sin¬ 
cere pleasure to all the young people. He 
wrote : “ Finish your studies, my dear Reg, 
and come in with us, unless you prefer to 
assist your father in Richmond.” 

Thus our friends were once more united, 
and when the summer came Mrs. Follansbee 
insisted on going to Beverly Farms, where 
she engaged a large house for the season, 
and scolded her niece, while she spent her 
money freely on the young people. When 
Dick told her about the two thousand loaned 
to General Gresham she pretended to be 
very angry; but at last told him he might 
have done worse, and if her house in New 
York would be worth anything to him she 


262 


Doctor Dick . 


would present him with a deed of it when he 
graduated. A few weeks after, her body 
grew feeble, and her memory seemed better. 
Then she said in touching tones: “ Mary 
dear, I am afraid I have troubled you a great 
deal all these years, and you have been so 
good to me; I didn’t seem to know it until 
now — never mind, my dear, all I have is 
yours and Richard’s, and as soon as I am 
laid by my husband, you must take Richard 
and go to Europe for a rest. I want him to 
see the world before he settles down.” 

“ I have tried to be patient, aunt dear,” 
said Mrs. Miller; “ I feel so sorry to see such 
an active woman as you grow helpless, and 
if I have failed in anything you must for¬ 
give me.” 

“ There’s nothing for me to forgive, child, 
but you will find it easier when I am gone; 
and you won’t let Richard, or Richard’s 
children forget me I hope.” 

“ Never, auntie ; his home will always be 
his because you loved him.” 


Rest For the Weary. 263 

“ And there’s that poor child Dolly War¬ 
rington, I think of her so much; her father 
won’t be here long, and she will need com¬ 
forting. I wish you would look after her, 
Mary; she’s the only girl I ever saw that I 
should like to have for my own.” 

“We will all care for Dolly, aunt. You 
know General Gresham and Mrs. Neville 
are anxious to have them spend next winter 
in Richmond, but the Doctor prefers to re¬ 
main in Cambridge with the boys, for the 
present.” 

“ There’s Dode too,” said the old lady, 
whose mind flew from one thing to another 
with great rapidity. “ I wish you would ed¬ 
ucate Dode, Mary; she’s very bright, and 
may be she will turn out a fine singer. Mr. 
Budd says her voice is remarkable.” 

“ I will do all you wish, aunt,” said Mrs. 
Miller. 

“ That’s a good girl, Mary; you always 
were good, and you and your husband have 
done nobly by me ; I see it all now; the true 


2 6 4 


Doctor Dick. 


sight comes at last; call Richard, Mary, I 
want to speak to him.” 

Dick came promptly. 

“ What is it, auntie; shall I raise you up a 
little ? ” 

“Yes, Richard, put my head on your 
shoulder, as you did yesterday; there, that is 
it; you will make a nice doctor, boy, and I 
am sorry I have been so fretty and cross to 
you.” 

“ Nonsense, auntie, wait until I am as old 
as you, and I will torment every one.” 

“ Ah, I’ve been a kind of chestnut burr, 
Dick, and I know it, but I’ve loved you all 
through, all of you, all of you,” repeated the 
old lady. 

“ We know it, auntie, and I am sorry 
father is not here to do something for you. 
Don’t talk any more, dear, you are tired 
* now. ” 

The old lady closed her tired eyes, and 
said feebly, “ Yes, I’m tired ; sing, Dick, sing 
‘ There is rest for the weary,’ you and your 


Rest For the Weary. 265 

mother, as you did in the old days. Ask 
Dolly — ” 

“ Do you want to see her, auntie ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

Dode was sent away to summon her from 
the cottage, and she soon came in. 

“ There you are, dear; kiss me,” said Mrs. 
Follansbee. 

Dolly bent over and kissed the thin 
wrinkled face. 

“ Thank you, dear; now sing.” 

“ Aunt wants us to sing ‘ There is rest for 
the weary,’ ” said Mrs. Miller, as she took her 
aunt’s hand in her own. 

Tears were stealing down Dolly’s cheeks 
as she sang. Mrs. Miller lost a word now 
and then in her struggles to be calm, and 
Doctor Dick’s rich bass voice was husky. 
As they finished the refrain, “ There is 
sweet rest in heaven,” the head resting on 
Dick’s shoulder fell one side, and the tired 
heart stopped beating. 

“ She has found the sweet rest at last,” 


266 


Doctor Dick . 


said Dick, as be gently laid her back upon 
the pillows, and her wish had been granted ; 
she simply “ fell asleep.” 

The death of Mrs. Follansbee saddened 
the little party at the beach, and yet not 
one could wish her back to lead a life 
of suffering. 

Mrs. Miller and Dick returned to New 
York where the funeral services were held, 
and the remains of the once beautiful and 
active woman laid in the resting-place of 
her old and honored family. 

It was touching to witness the kind¬ 
ness of the summer sojourners to Mrs. 
Miller and her son during their trouble, 
and their welcome was most cordial when 
they returned, bringing with them Mrs. 
Thorpe. 

Mrs. Miller, ever thoughtful and kind, 
had written to her friend, who was in 
Georgetown much broken in health after 
her arduous labors for the soldiers, and 
Mrs. Thorpe gladly responded, accepting 


Rest For the Weary . 267 

the kind invitation to rest and recruit at 
West Beach. 

General Gresham was also induced to 
rest from his severe duties, and spend a 
few weeks with his children by the sea. 

He entered into all their sports with 
the eagerness of a boy, and spent many 
happy quiet hours with Doctor Warrington. 

One morning after Dick’s return, the 
boys planned a trip to Baker’s island in 
a pretty yacht which Harvard Budd placed 
at their disposal. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. 
Thorpe remained with the doctor, while 
Dolly, Cora, Mrs. Van Cleve, Marion and 
Nina Moore accompanied the young gen¬ 
tlemen. 

It was a bright, beautiful day, and cheer 
after cheer rang out as they sailed away, 
while the party on shore waved their hand¬ 
kerchiefs as long as they could be seen. 

Doctor Dick was, naturally, more quiet 
than usual, and Dolly exerted herself to 
entertain him, while Reginald who invarb 


268 


Doctor Dick. 


ably saw things as they were, aided her in 
every possible manner. 

“ Let us take the dory and go out for 
some fish,’ , said Ned ; “ we will catch them 
and be ready to land as soon as you are, 
if you are obliged to tack so much.” 

“True,” said Charlie; “come, uncle, go 
with us.” 

“ Any bait on board ? ” asked Dick. 

“Yes, plenty; Josiah attended to that,” 
replied Reggie. 

“ May I go ? ” asked Marion, whose 
success with the hook and line had been 
remarkable for several weeks, considering 
her inexperience. 

“Yes, indeed; and you too, cousin Dolly,” 
said Ned. 

“ I must decline this morning,” said 
she; “ these white wings possess great at¬ 
traction for me, and I frankly own that 
I am too lazy to fish just now.” 

Miss Marion was seated in the stern, 
Charlie and Ned took the oars, while 


Rest For the Weary . 269 

General Gresham in the bow baited hooks 
and prepared, as he said, “ for business.” 

“ Go down between the islands,” shouted * 
Dick, as the little boat danced over the 
breakers. 

“ No, thank you,” returned Marion; “we 
don’t care to go down anywhere.” 

“They can pull in some rock cod just off 
the point yonder,” said Mr. Budd’s skipper. 

“ If there is a fish within ten miles Ned 
will find it,” said Dolly, “ and as to Marion, 
she has fairly bewitched the whole finny 
tribe.” 

“ In fishing the green hands are always 
most successful,” said a sailor who was 
watching the little boat. 

“ Don’t you think Marion has bewitched 
some of the human species ? ” asked Dick, 
with a touch of his old-time mischief in 
his tone. 

“Yes, she could not help it,” said Dolly 
warmly, “ Marion is so genuine she draws 
people to her like a magnet.” 


Doctor Dick. 


2 JO 

% 

“ Loyal Dolly,” said Dick in a teasing 
tone, “ nothing could induce her to speak 
a derogatory word of any one in their 
absence. Now I am not one of the virtuous 
ones, and I boldly say that Charlie and 
Ned are rowing that boat like two green¬ 
horns.” 

“ And I say they are doing just as they 
should,” said Dolly; “ can’t you see the 
white caps, and feel the wind out there ? ” 

“ No,” said Dick, “ I cannot feel the 
wind there. I can only discover a slight 
breeze here. Mrs. Van Cleve, if you want 
to see Cousin Dolly vexed, just attempt 
for one brief moment a few reproachful 
remarks concerning some of her friends.” 

“I shall not try it,” said Mrs.' Van 
Cleve, coming forward to Dolly’s station 
near the cabin door. “ Miss Dolly is right; 
your true-hearted lady speaks only of the 
good, and is wisely silent concerning de¬ 
fects. If there is a more disagreeable 
feature than the backbiting so prevalent 


Rest For the Weary . 271 

in fashionable society, I have failed to see 
it. Your average summer resort is a 
perfect hot-bed of such vile plants, and 
I have raged internally when I have listened 
to the untrue, unkind, and unnecessary 
remarks of women who consider themselves 
ladies. A young girl on the piazza at 
Saratoga or a mountain house is petted 
and praised until she enters the door, then 
her dissection begins, and I assure you 
that it is far more cruel than your scientific 
investigations, Doctor Dick.” 

“Young girls are not the only victims,” 
said Cora; “ I have seen mamma annoyed 
beyond measure by the midges of society, 
and one is so completely at their mercy. 
The simplest truth, the lightest word is 
misconstrued or misrepresented. We are 
spared all this in college; we are too busy 
to create mischief, and — ” 

“ Too true and generous to pick flaws 
with your neighbors,” said Dolly, putting 
her arm about her friend. “ I have some- 


2J2 


Doctor Dick . 


times regretted my solitary studious life 
with papa, but the longer I live the more 
do A congratulate myself that I have es¬ 
caped the annoyances of fashionable life.” 

“ I would not be a fashionable woman 
for all this beautiful earth,” said Cora 
eagerly. 

“You couldn’t, dear,” said Mrs. Van Cleve, 
“ your position compels you to see the 
best of fashionable society, but you will 
never find your happiness in dressing for 
hops, or growing jealous over favors in 
the German.” 

“ Miss Cora will be a spectacled pro¬ 
fessor,” said Dick with. a laugh, “ and we 
will all attend her lectures in the sweet 
by and bye.” 

“ All right,” said Cora, “ I will write a 
ticket free of course, with the inscription, 
‘ Admit the bearer for purposes of dissec¬ 
tion.’ ” 

“ Come, come, what is all this ? ” asked 
jovial Doctor H-, who had joined the 



Rest For the Weary. 


273 


party by special request, and until the 
present time found himself happy in ex¬ 
amining some specimens which Marion’s 
father had procured while dredging. 

“Nothing,” said Dolly, who was always 
sure of herself and perfectly at ease with 
him; “ nothing, Doctor, only charges pre¬ 
ferred against fashionable society, and I am 
not a witness in the case ; only an interested 
spectator.” 

“ Fashionable society, forsooth ! what have 
we to do with it, except to laugh at its ab¬ 
surd follies and deplore its vices ? Give me 
a dozen good friends tried and true, plenty 
of books, loves of children, and money 
enough to enjoy the grand world we live in, 
and you are heartily welcome to your dress, 
your jealousies, and pettiness.” 

“ Dolly, my dear, come aft while I show you 
Huntley’s latest treasure; if Marion does 
not return to check him he will dredge and 
investigate all day.” 

i( Indeed he will not,” said Dolly, as she 


274 


Doctor Dick . 


walked firmly across the deck, “ he has prom¬ 
ised us a cup of French chocolate when we 
land, and I shall remind him of it con¬ 
tinually.” 

Mr. Budd’s fleet yacht came to anchor 
just off the Island, and the entire party 
were landed in good order, but nothing 

could be seen of the small boat, although a 
powerful glass was used by every one, from 
the captain down to the cabin boy. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


DANGER. 



HE chowder is all ready, sir,” said the 
colored steward to Mr. Budd in an 
undertone, “ and we can’t see anything of the 
lady and the young gentlemen.” 

Harvard Budd looked troubled. His nice 
sense of propriety led him to desire every¬ 
th i n«- at its best. 

O 


For several months he had found Dolly 
his best counsellor, and he now went to her 
where she was seated with Cora far out on 
a point of rocks jutting into the ocean. 

“ What shall we do, Miss Warrington,” he 

275 


2 j6 Doctor Dick . 

asked when he had found secure footing 
near them. “ Our steward is a minute man ; 
the dinner is ready, and our friends are not 
in sight.” 

“ I suppose we must dine without them,” 
said Dolly, “ much as I dislike to, but Marion, 
Ned, and Charlie might consult their watches 
if they chose.” 

“ I am in a starving condition,” said Cora, 
“ and I am not sure that I can leave any¬ 
thing for them.” 

“ Let me assist you back to the main land, 
then, Miss Birney, and I will prove to you 
that our dinner does not depend on the fish 
to be caught.” 

Cora gave her hand to the young man, 
who assisted her in springing from rock to 
rock, while Dolly tripped along unaided like 
a chamois. Her long practice made her 
sure footed, and until she saw Dick comins: 

O 

down to meet her she did not realize that 
she was being left far behind. 

“Are you worried about Marion,” asked 


Danger . 277 

he as he extended his hand for a good jump 
over a chasm. 

“No-indeed,” she replied cheerfully, “ I 
dare say they are all having such rare sports 
that it is hard to leave.” 

“ Siah and one of the deck-hands saw a 
lady and gentleman on the outer edge of 
that small island over there, and Siah 
thinks the boys have gone outside, where it 
is hardly safe for the dory— I don’t want to 
alarm you,” said Dick, as Dolly’s large eyes 
grew larger, “ but we propose to eat our din¬ 
ner and then put up sail and look after 
them.” 

“ Mr. Budd does not seem anxious,” said 
Dolly. ' 

“ It is part of his magnificence to seem 
cool,” said Dick. 

“ A very excellent thing,” said Dolly, 
whose heart was beating rapidly. “ I don’t 
understand why General Gresham and Mar¬ 
ion should land unless they wanted to fish 
from the shore,” she added, after she had 


Doctor Dick . 


278 

shaded her eyes and taken one more look 
seaward. 

“ I think they will not be quite miserable,” 
said Dick with a sly twinkle of his roguish 
eyes. 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ I mean nothing; certain self-evident 
truths impress themselves upon me. I told 
you this morning that the fair maid Marion 
had bewitched some of the human species.” 

“ Don’t be absurd, Dick.” 

“ Not in the least, if I can help it, but the 
gallant General certainly admires our friend, 
and has done so since last spring.” 

“We all admire her,” said Dolly; “why 
you have been devoted to her yourself, and 
I am sure — ” 

“ Sure of what ? Cousin Dolly, you forget 
that Miss Marion is my senior and your 
own ; you also forget that Cora and all your 
friends are favorites of mine.” 

“ Because they richly deserve to be,” said 
Dolly with her usual directness, “ and I am 


Danger. 


279 


sure you have paid dear Marion most marked 
attention, and I respect General Gresham 
for understanding and appreciating her.” 

“ So do I,” said Dick, “ but I wish his love- 
making could be deferred until our company 
had dined; a practical man would never 
propose on an empty stomach.” 

“ A heartless man thinks only of his 
stomach,” retorted Dolly. 

“True hearts are troublesome organs; 
look out for yours, Cousin Dolly, Harvard 
Budd is continually throwing out bait for it.” 

“I wish, Dick, you would not try to vex 
me,” said Dolly, stopping short in her walk 
and once more turning to the sea; “ I don’t 
know why you should. Mr. Budd is very 
kind to us all, and very, very considerate. I 
don’t think he would say a word to hurt the 
feelings of any human being, and he planned 
this excursion for General Gresham’s sake, 
when he saw him so tired and worn. I ac¬ 
cused him of it this morning, and he did not 
deny it, but blushed like a school-boy be- 


28o 


Doctor Dick . 


cause he was detected in his secret kindness. 
I wish, Dick, you would not always see 
some selfish motive in the acts of our 
friends.” 

“ I wish I didn’t, you dear bit of condensed 
innocence and unselfishness. I say, Dolly, 
do you know your little lectures are an ex¬ 
cellent tonic. I shouldn’t wonder if you 
quite reformed me in time ; I have told you 
so frequently.” 

“ Come, children, come to dinner,” called 
Mrs. Van Cleve ; “and Doctor Dick, I wish 
you would find Jack ; when last seen he was 
escorting Marion’s pretty cousin over on 
the cliff. You young people manage to 
make me a small world of trouble.” 

Mrs. Van Cleve’s merry face contradicted 
her words, and when Jack returned with 
Nina Moore blushing and rosy after her vig¬ 
orous walk in the wind, Dolly heard Jack’s 
mother say to her boy: “ We were all 

young once, dear, but it is wise to remember 
our dinners on such pleasure parties.” 


Danger. 


281 


Dr. H-kept the party in great good 

humor, although it was well understood that 
the absence of the small boat gave each one 
great uneasiness. 

Reginald found it almost impossible to 
keep quiet. Professor Huntley left his seat 
at least three times to sweep the sea with 
his glass, and each time returned saying: 
“Oh well, they are all right, of course ; such 
an experienced soldier as Gresham, and such 
a salt-water duck as Master Ned, must of 

0 

necessity turn up all right.” 

At last the dinner was finished, and the 
yacht got under way, but an unfavorable 
wind gave the sailors much to complain of 
and caused the guests on board to consult 
their watches frequently. 

Dolly had seated herself in the extreme 
bow where Harvard Budd watched over her 
and constantly urged her to hold firmly to 
to the railing, as a sudden flaw of wind might 
send her overboard. 

Dolly feared nothing, but at last consented 



282 


Doctor Dick . 


to change her seat a little, while she still 
watched the waves before them. 

The pilot fumed and chewed tobacco with 
a reckless disregard of quantity; indeed, his 
right cheek seemed to suffer from distention, 
and his temper from anxiety. In reply to 
Dick’s question about the small boat he 
gruffly answered that “ you might as well 
go to sea in a peanut shell with the wind in 
that quarter, and if he had known what they 
were about he should have talked pretty 
plain.” 

Professor Huntley paced the deck and 
would not listen to the marvellous story of a 

mermaid which Dr. H-prepared for the 

occasion. 

“ I can see Marion,” screamed Dolly, “ I 
know I can; they are on that rocky point, 
and she is waving something.” In her joy 
Dolly quite forgot herself, and sprang sud¬ 
denly to her feet as the yacht lurched. 
Thanks to Harvard Budd’s watchfulness 
she was safe, and his strong arms drew her 



Danger . 


283 


safely back to a sheltered position. Dick 
who was deliberately swinging his feet from 
an elevated position on the cabin, saw the 
movement and also saw Budd’s pale face. 
He could not hear the words uttered, but he 
saw Dolly’s face as she turned it toward her 
preserver, and expressed her thanks, and in 
another moment Dick stood by her side. 

“ Miss Warrington, let me compliment you 
on being so near and yet so far,” he said. 

“ Wasn’t it careless ? ” asked Dolly. “ I am 
ashamed of it, for Mr. Budd and the Cap¬ 
tain had both warned me, but I was so glad 
to catch even a faint glimpse of Marion, 
that I forgot everything else.” 

“ It is fortunate for us that Budd did not,” 
said Dick calmly. 

“And fortunate for me, at least, that his 
gymnasium practice has developed his strong 
right arm. Mr. Budd has promised to watch 
over me all day, lest I perform some other 
mad act; you told me once that I needed a 
guardian.” 


2 8 4 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Perhaps your father will prefer to select 
one for you,” said Dick, in a tone so utterly 
unlike his usual cheerful one, that Dolly in¬ 
voluntarily looked up. Dick stood unmoved 
watching the point where Marion and Gen¬ 
eral Gresham were now plainly seen. 

“ I am fortunate in having kind, watchful 
friends everywhere,” said Dolly, “ and I think 
you will be generous enough not to mention 
this to papa; you know, Doctor Dick, how 
nervous he is of late, and it would make him 
uneasy on all our future trips.” 

“ Not a word from me, Cousin Dolly,” said 
Dick, “but you must caution Jack, for he is 
apt to forget himself and repeat the entire 
proceedings of the day as part of our gen¬ 
eral report to your father.” 

“ I will go to him, ” said Dolly, “ and 
pledge him to silence.” 

“ Let your guardian escort you, then,” 
said Budd, offering his arm. 

Dick turned on his heel and looked for 
Cora. That lovely young lady was seated 


Danger. 


285 


in a deck chair chatting merrily with Dr. 
H- ——,who knew Miss Mitchell of Vassar, 
and other friends of the college. They 
were no longer anxious about the wanderers, 
for a fair breeze was fast bringing them 
nearer and nearer their friends on the Point. 

Jack Montgomery, his mother, and pretty 
Nina Moore were interested in tying and 
untying knots in some bits of rope which 
Walter was puzzling them with. They were 
too much occupied to notice any unusual 
commotion forward, and Dolly’s narrow es¬ 
cape had not been observed by any one save 
the Captain, Dr. Dick, Professor Huntley, 
and the young lady’s newly appointed guar¬ 
dian. 

Professor Huntley was restless and yet 
happy. His darling child was safe and he 
could see her lithe figure as she waved her 
handkerchief toward the yacht. 

“ Where can the small boat be,” asked the 
Captain of Doctor Dick, as the latter was 
crossing the deck to join Cora’s party. 



286 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Somewhere under the lee of the rocks, 
perhaps,” said Dick. 

“ I am afraid not,” said the Captain. 

Dick turned upon him suddenly. “ Do 
you mean, — ” said he, and then paused. 

“I mean,” said the Captain in a calm, v 
even drawling tone, “ that those boys are just 
as likely to be swamped as any other way.” 

“ Good Heavens ! ” exclaimed Dick; “ it 
cannot be possible.” 

“Perhaps not, but I haven’t been in and 
out of this harbor for thirty years without 
learning a little something about it, and if 
there is a mean, treacherous spot on the 
coast it lies just off there. You needn’t 
scare the women folks about it, though.” 

“ Do you think Budd is aware of the dan¬ 
ger,” asked Dick, as he saw that gentleman 
wrapping a large shawl about Dolly, who 
was now seated near Mrs. Van Cleve. 

“ There isn’t much going on here that he 
doesn’t know ; he is a cool one, as I can tell, 
after working for him five years.” 


Danger . 


287 

Dick went forward alone. The yacht had 
changed her course and seemed to be sailing 
away from the figures on the point, but in 
reality she was simply tacking, in order to 
make a safe approach. 

Nothing could be seen on the water as 
far as the eye could reach. Dick’s anxiety 
was now terrible, if those boys were drowned 
what could be said or done ? In his terror 
he thought of Budd, and beckoned him for¬ 
ward. The young man answered promptly. 

“ I know the worst, Budd, the Captain has 
told me ; shall we take one boat and look 
for them while your men rescue General 
Gresham and Miss Huntley?” 

“Yes, it is all arranged; I knew I could 
rely on you, Miller, and Jack must keep the la¬ 
dies in order. We shall need all our strength 
in this sea, and my skipper thinks we had 
better not risk our lives, but let the men go. 
I tell him that no sailor in my employ shall 
take a chance for his life while I can pull an 
oar for my friends. 


288 


Doctor Dick . 


“You are a trump, Budd,” said Dick 
warmly, “ and I am with you. See ! Miss 
Huntley is pointing somewhere, and General 
Gresham beckons with both hands : he tries 
to hurry us.” 

Budd hnrrJed away to confer with the 
Captain, and in a few moments the yacht 
was anchored, and two boats left her. 

One contained Captain Norris and a sail¬ 
or, while the other was pulled by Har¬ 
vard Budd and Doctor Dick. Both young 
men had thrown aside all superfluous cloth¬ 
ing, and were bending to the oars with*a will. 

On board the yacht every eye was turned 
toward the point of rocks, while Professor 
Huntley gave vent to his feelings in sighs 
and half-uttered ejaculations. 

“ Dear Marion is safe,” said Dolly ; “ see ! 
she is in the Captain’s boat, and General 
Gresham is coming too ; I wonder why he 
hesitates and looks back ? There must be 
something behind the ledge which he is 
pointing to.” 


Danger . 289 

“ A huge string of fish which he does not 
care to leave,” said Jack. 

“ Or a remarkable rock formation,” said 

Doctor H-, “our good friend never wearies 

of these boulders about here. I tell him he 
has missed his vocation, and should hereafter 
devote himself to science.” 

Mrs. Van Cleve said nothing. She in¬ 
tuitively felt that something was wrong, 
and her keen eyes had seen a bottle and a 
blanket put in the boat which Dick and Mr. 
Budd had charge of. When the Captain’s 
boat reached the yacht a dozen hands were 
offered to Marion, whose face was deadly 
pale. While her friends were bidding her 
welcome, the Captain pulled away again, with 
General Gresham still on board. 

“ What is it, Marion dear ? ” said her fa¬ 
ther, holding her in his arms. “ Our young 
friends are safe, I trust.” 

“ I hope so, papa.” 

“ Then why do you tremble so, and why 
are you so distressed ? ” 



2Q0 


Doctor Dick . 


“ The rudder broke ; and they are such 
brave, good boys, I only feared help might 
come too late, and —” 

Evidently it had been eagerly prayed for, 
and Miss Marion’s strength had been over¬ 
taxed in attempting to signal the yacht, for 
her head sank on her father’s shoulder, and 
a severe nervous chill was followed by com¬ 
plete prostration. Dolly hurried to the cabin 
for restoratives, while Mrs. Van Cleve, Cora, 
and Nina Moore did all in their power to re¬ 
lieve their friend. In the cabin Jack and 
Dolly found some ammonia, and the cook 
offered a cup of hot coffee, which he had 
made especially for the wanderers. 

Marion soon recovered, and inquired for 
the boys, but no satisfactory reply could yet 
be given, as all the boats were out of sight. 

“ There is our signal,” said Dolly at last. 
“ Dick has not forgotten it. They are safe, 
safe ! ” and in her excitement and gratitude 
Dolly knelt upon the deck and thanked God 
for his goodness. 


Danger . 


291 

The Captains boat was the first to arrive, 
and in it sat Ned, wrapped in a sailor’s jack¬ 
et, with his eyes just visible above the collar. 
He was assisted on board and taken at once 
to the cabin, while his father briefly explained 
in passing that Charlie was also safe, and 
would soon appear in the other boat. 

“ Is Charlie ill ? ” asked Dolly, with white, 
set lips. 

“ Nothing serious, I trust,” replied the 
General; “ you know his head has been a 
little troublesome for some time.” 

“ May I go to Ned ? ” asked Dolly. 

“ Certainly, my dear girl; who, pray, can 
care for any of them as you can ? ” 

Mrs. Van Cleve joined Dolly. 

Ned was not alarmed ; he was only tired, 
cold and hungry. He knew they would come 
out all right, only it seemed ten years after 
the rudder broke and they lost their oar. 

General Gresham saw his son made com¬ 
fortable, and then returned to the deck in 
time to receive Charlie, who was unconscious, 


2Q2 


Doctor Dick . 


and evidently very weak. Harvard Budd and 
Dick bore him to the cabin, and General 
Gresham, although very anxious himself, 
comforted the ladies. 

k “ Dolly understands him perfectly,” said 
he, “ and indeed her care pulled him through 
after his injuries so long ago. I am not sur¬ 
prised at the dizziness, and I only wonder 
that they have escaped ; for two long hours 
they have been whirled about at the mercy 
of the waves, while Miss Huntley and myself 
have suffered all the agony of helpless look¬ 
ers-on.” 

“ How did it happen, when both boys are 
such good sailors ? ” asked Cora Bii;ney. 

“ There’s no accounting for the freaks of 
the sea,” said Captain Norris. “ I have passed 
through that narrow channel between the 
ledges fifty times, and never struck, and yet 
only last summer I should have gone down 
there if it hadn’t been for some fishermen 
who heard me call for help. 

“ I can see how it was, plain enough: a 


Danger, 


293 


sudden wave struck them on the ledge and 
broke their rudder; then they pulled hard to 
get out of the eddy, and the oar snapped ; so 
you see while we were snug and ship-shape, 
them two boys were just whirling round and 
round in that pool, and nothin’ but a special 
Providence could have saved ’em.” 

✓ 

Professor Huntley bent over his daughter 
and kissed her cheek, to conceal his emotion. 

Dr. H-had forgotten all his jokes, and 

the ladies clasped their hands firmly, but did 
not speak. 

At Harvard Budd’s desire a table was 
spread for the travellers, and “ sweet maid 
Marion ” was overwhelmed with attention. 

Ned soon recovered, and told his story with 
a simple directness which won the hearts of 
his hearers and brought tears to their eyes, 
while Charlie fell asleep under the influence 

of a powder which Dr. H-prescribed 

and administered. Death had been so near, 
and yet passed them by; therefore thanks¬ 
giving and rejoicing were in order; but none 




*94 


Doctor Dick . 


of the party could forget, and all Dick’s 
roguish tricks, and the music and mirth which 
followed, were subdued and softened by con¬ 
stant thoughts of the “ might have been.” 

A good nap restored Charlie, and before 
the moon appeared the entire party assem¬ 
bled on deck, and sang many of the well- 
known airs so familiar to the “Annex Band.” 

As the evening wore away Dick found 
much amusement in watching General Gres- 
ham and Miss Marion, Jack Montgomery and 
Miss Nina, while Cora and Dolly sat side by 
side under one shawl, with Harvard Budd 
still acting the watchful guardian. 

Before ten o’clock in the evening the Rip¬ 
ple was at her moorings, and Dr. Warrington 
was listening to the story of the day. Not a 
word was said of the shadow which passed 
them by, and poor Chari’s dizziness was a 
common thing after a day of merry making. 

When Harvard Budd walked away from 
the cottage he saw before him not the pale, 
frightened face of Miss Marion, the haggard 


Danger. 


295 


one of General Gresham, or poor Chari in 
his unconscious condition, but a bright, 
blushing girl, with masses of curling hair 
flying about certain large speaking eyes; 
and he heard a voice saying over and over 
again, 

“ Oh ! Mr. Budd, what should I have done 
without your strong arms ? ” 

Even as he thought about it, that face was 
hidden in two small hands, and the patient, 
long-suffering invalid was thanking God for 
the safe return of his precious ones. Little 
did Dr. Warrington dream that death had 
been so near. 



CHAPTER XXII. 


“ SIAH JUNIOR ” AS “ JOE.” 

NE morning soon after the sailing 
party Bertie surprised the young 
people by saying he must go to Salem. 
Siah junior was going to Salem with Miss 
Lucinda and he was invited, and he wanted 
to see Miss Priscilla. 

“ Let us all go,” said Dick ; “ we can take 
the train home in season for dinner, and I 
have promised Miss Polly a picture of the 
Woodbox.” 

“ The Peace sisters would think their 
castle taken by storm,” said Dolly. 

“ Papa should go at all events,” said Ned, 

296 



“ Si ah Junior ” as “ Joe.” 29J 

“for Miss Lucinda says the Warringtons and 
Greshams are connected with their family, 
and I told her that we would call upon her 
this summer.” 

All excursions originated at the cottage, 
for there the young people gathered each 
day, and there they usually found some 
fleet messenger to carry the tidings to Mrs. 
Miller, the Budds, and Mrs. Van Cleve. 

Our young people were too large-hearted, 
and too refined to consider the married 
ladies in their way; indeed, they used every 
possible means to have them with them 
daily.- Mrs. Miller was unable to join them 
as often as she had done the previous sum¬ 
mer, and Dolly missed her sadly, but Mrs. 
Van Cleve was as lively as the youngest, and 
she was always ready to enter into their 
sports. 

When Harvard Budd was told of the 
proposed visit, he objected to the cars, and 
at once offered his own large carriage 
with two smaller ones. This arrangement 


2g8 


Doctor Dick . 


would virtually separate the party, and ob¬ 
jections were numerous. Dr. H-was 

spending a few days at Manchester-by-the- 
sea; Prof. Huntley had gone to Swamp- 
scott for a week, and therefore General 
Gresham was the only one to be consulted. 
He appealed to the ladies and found little 
assistance, for one and all were ready to 
do “ as the rest did.” 

At last Doctor Dick and Harvard Budd 
agreed to act for the party, and two carriage 
loads were made ready. Thanks to Dick’s 
superior strategy, Miss Marion was seated 
by the General, Harvard Budd had Miss 
Cora for a companion, Jack was permitted 
to enjoy Nina Moore’s society, tire boys were 
cuddled near Mrs. Van Cleve, while Mrs. 
Miller, Dolly, and Bertie sat together. It 
was a merry party, and as the carriages 
rolled away, more than one child wished 
they were rich and could ride in such fine 
• style. 

Bertie was never happier; he was with 



“ Siah Junior ” as “ Joe .” 


299 


his dear cousin Dolly, and her hand was 
held firmly in his. Miss Lucinda and Siah 
junior had gone over in the train, and there 
was nothing to regret save the absence “ of 
dear uncle doctor and auntie Neville.” 

Bertie was growing rapidly now—too 
rapidly, the doctor thought — for his active 
brain was still active, and his strength did 
not equal his proportions. 

The drive along the shore is quite too 
short for happy people, and long before they 
desired it, the square roof of Miss Priscilla’s 
home was in sight. Miss Priscilla was 
spending the day with the Peace sisters, 
and there our friends found her. 

Nothing had changed. The three maid¬ 
ens sat with their knitting as before, and 
Reggie thought even the yarn was the same. 
Miss Betty was still very, very deaf, and 
her sisters, Miss Sally and Miss Polly, still 
echoed the words of all their guests, while 
she nodded and smiled. General Gresham 
was looked upon as a curiosity, and treated 


300 


Doctor Dick . 


as a distinguished guest. The sisters buzzed 
about him like bees, and asked him all 
manner of questions about the war, and 
his Southern home. 

Doctor Dick found his old place on the 
sofa, and produced his sketches of the 
Woodbox, while the other members of the 
party visited “Sirs’ ” chamber, and examined 
the wonderful keepsakes which had been 
cherished for so many years. 

Bertie amused himself with the cats, and 
had followed one dainty malta to an ad¬ 
joining room, when he was suddenly alarmed 
by a hoarse cry of “ Get out! ” 

Bertie looked everywhere, but failed to 
see any one ; accordingly he sat down upon 
a low stool, and began to stroke pussy. 

“ Get out, you rascal! ” called the voice 
in an angry tone, and then added: “Shame 
on you ! shame ! shame ! ” 

The child was now thoroughly frightened 
and ran to Dolly, who listened to his whis¬ 
pered tale of woe. 


“ Siah Junior ” as “ Joe” 


301 


“ Go anywhere you like in the house, dear 
child,” said Miss Polly; “it stands to reason 
that a little fellow like you isn’t interested 
in relics.” 

Dolly allowed herself to be ushered into 
the next room to find “ the cross man.” 

“ There is no one here, dear,” said she, 
looking about; “ the ladies will not have a 
man in the house since their brother died.” 

“ What a yarn, oh my ! ” exclaimed a voice, 
and Dolly laughed merrily, for in a large 
cage, half-concealed by some curtains, was 
a parrot with his head perched on one side, 
as he eyed the intruders. 

“Oh Poll, you are a rogue!” said Dolly. 

“ Never, no, never, say die,” sang Poll. 

Bertie was now as much delighted as he 
had been alarmed before, and his merry 
peals of laughter soon brought his father 
and Miss Polly to the dining-room, where 
the parrot reigned supreme. 

f 

“ He belongs to a friend of ours,” said 
Miss Polly, “ and as they have all gone to 


302 


Doctor Dick . 


• # 

the mountains, we are keeping him for 

them. He says very funny things some¬ 
times. Now, Polly, welcome our friends.” 

“ How do you do? good-by! come again! 
so glad ! so glad ! good-morning! ” screamed 
Polly, while Bertie clapped his hands. 

“ His salutations are rather confused,” 
said Dick. 

“Oh you horrid thing!” screamed Poll, 
whereupon all laughed at Doctor Dick. 

Miss Polly brought a small violin to the 
boys, and begged them to play Yankee 
Doodle. Dick complied, and at once Poll 
set up a series of shrill notes which nearly 
deafened his hearers. 

“ The violin,” explained Miss Polly, “ be¬ 
longs to the little son of the parrot’s owner, 
and he left it here when he went away.” 

“ Do make him talk some more,” said 
Bertie. 

“ Are you a good Poll ? ” asked Miss 
Cora. 

“ Good boy, good Poll! be good, and you’ll, 


% 


“ Siah Junior ” as “ Joe” 


303 


you’ll — oh dear ! oh dear ! oh yes—you’ll 
be happy; Yankee Doodle.” 

The boys were much pleased with this 
accomplished bird, and Bertie was anxious 
to buy him. 

“ Captain Carter’s little boy would not 
sell him,” said Miss Polly; “ he expects to 
see Polly as soon as he opens his eyes in 
the morning, and he writes me funny little 
letters about his pet.” 

“ I know a queer parrot story,” said Cora. 
“ Two friends of mine were named Kate, 
and they were very fond of each other. 
When they were little girls, they were per¬ 
mitted to spend one day each week at their 
respective homes. Kate Deems’ father was 
a clergyman, and usually said a long grace 
at table. One day Katie Brown was dining 
there, and the good pastor was late. He 
began as usual to say grace, when Polly, 
who was always fed with a boiled potato 
as soon as the blessing was concluded, 
became impatient, and screamed out: 


304 


Doctor Dick . 


“ ‘ Now say amen ; now say amen. Polly 
wants a potato.’ 

“ The good minister said amen, and gave 
the bird his dinner.” 

“And I know a parrot story too,” said 
Marion. “We once had a very excellent 
and portly colored woman for a cook; on 
her way to church she was compelled to 
pass a sailors’ boarding-house where a par¬ 
rot was kept, and the moment he saw her 
he would cry out, ‘ Halloo ! there goes a black 
cloud!’ One day cook’s sister visited her, 
and she also was very black and very portly. 
‘ Now, Hannah,’ said our cook, as they were 
about starting for church, ‘ before you gets 
to de sailors’ boardin’-house you jest put 
yer head down, or that sassy parrot will 
make remarks.’ 

“‘All right,’replied Hannah, and as soon 
as they turned the corner of the street where 
Polly lived, both women pulled their poke- 
bonnets further over their faces and held 
down their heads. 


“ Sioh Junior ” as “ Joe 


3°5 


“ 6 The rascal didn’t see us this time,’ said 
cook, but she spoke too soon, for suddenly 
Poll cried out in a loud key, ‘ Halloo ! halloo ! 
there goes two black clouds ! ” 

“ Aha ! ” said Dick, “ then parrots can 
count as well as crows.” 

After the sisters had shown all their 
treasures, the party visited the Peabody 
Academy of Science, and the rooms of 
the Essex Institute. The latter organiza¬ 
tion General Gresham knew all about, for 
previous to the war he had interested him¬ 
self in exchanging rare specimens. His 
boys were familiar with such subjects before 
leaving him, and he now felt it a sincere 
pleasure to show them many objects of 
interest which he had forwarded to Salem 
in days long since past. 

The entire party drove about the quiet 
old city, and visited every historic point. 
Reggie and Dick wished they could buy 
Hawthorne’s birthplace, and keep it forever 
in repair, while Harvard Budd rejoiced that 


306 


Doctor Dick. 


the Institute had secured the First Church 
in the colony and kept its precious old 
timbers under lock and key. After a long 
and tiresome trip to the very top of Gallows’ 
Hill, where the witches were hung, both 
drivers turned their horses’ heads home¬ 
ward, and the young people separated, well 
pleased with their excursion. 

When Dolly entered the cottage she 
found Miss Lucinda there before her, and 
expressed her surprise. 

“ Land sake ! ” said the good woman, “ you 
don’t suppose it takes forever to do a little 
shopping; why, I make those Salem clerks 
stand round, I can tell you.” 

Dolly was sure of it. 

“ You see it’s a good time to buy what 
I call the solids for a family; it’s just betwixt 
and between seasons, and I laid in some 
towels and napkins, and hose for the chil¬ 
dren, and two suits with extra pants for 
Siah, and a lot of trip-traps ; it’s astonishin’ 
how easy the money goes, Miss Dolly.” 


“ Siah Junior ” as “ Joe.” 


307 


“ And it’s beautiful to see how you make 
it go for others,” said Dolly warmly. “ I 
do think you forget yourself utterly.” 

“ Never worry about me, Miss Dolly; 
when a woman reaches my age she needn’t 
hanker after ribbons and gewgaws ; it’s time 
to be givin’ the young folks a chance, and 
that reminds me, Miss Dolly, that I want 
to have a little talk with you about Siah 
junior, but you needn’t expect it now, for 
you are all tired out sight-seein’, and you 
better follow Miss Cora’s example and lie 
down a spell.” 

Dolly was only too glad to rest, and both 
girls were soon fast asleep in Dolly’s pretty 
room, for Marion had driven home with 
Mrs. Miller and her friend, Mrs. Thorpe. 

That evening when all the guests had 
retired, Dolly stole away into Miss Lucin¬ 
da’s room, and sat down for a little chat 
while she brushed out her beautiful hair. 

“ Now what is it about Siah?” asked Dolly. 

“ Well, you see,” said Miss Lucinda as she 


308 


Doctor Dick . 


seated herself in a low chair, “ he’s a puzzle 
tome. There was a spell when I thought he 
wasn’t over bright, but a change seems to 
have come over him; he wants to see into 
things, and he’s grown softer like, and 
several times lately he has said ‘Auntie, if I 
could go to school now, I most think I 
should like to study.’ ” 

“ I am delighted,” said Dolly; “ we must 
give him a chance, musn’t we ? ” 

“ Well, so it begins to seem to me,” said 
Miss Lucinda slowly; “ if he wants to have 
learning, why shouldn’t he ? His mother 
was a great reader, and although she didn’t 
live long and come of a sickly family, she 
had a quiet sort of goodness about her that 
made you love her. It was always a puzzle 
to me how she came to take up with a 
roguish sort of man like my brother, although 
he is kind-hearted as a woman.” 

“ Indeed he is,” said Dolly, “ and I dare 
say his wife saw only his kind heart and his 
good qualities.” 


“Siah Junior ” as “Joe” jop 

“Well, the second mother will be dead set 
against much schooling for Siah; she isn’t 
that kind of a woman; she can read some, 
write a little, and count pennies as fast as 
you or I, but when you have said that, you 
have said all as far as learning is concerned. 
It won’t do to have Siah here, for he won’t 
get a chance to do anything but mind babies, 
and I was wondering if we could send him 
to some good public school next fall and let 
him chore round for his board.” 

“ Of course we can,” said Dolly; “ it can be 

managed easily. I will consult papa about 

• » ” 

it. 

“ You understand, Miss Dolly,” said Miss 
Lucinda, bringing down the forefinger of 
her right hand on the outstretched fingers of 
the left, “ you understand plainly that I don’t 
expect him to go to college unless he sees 
something beyond its doors that he is aiming 
after; I am only a plain old woman, but I 
can see without glasses that a great many 
young men come out of college unfit for the 


Doctor Dick . 


310 

real sensible work of life, and I’d rather have 
Siah dig clams and go a-fishing than see 
him a useless creature with his head cram¬ 
med so full he couldn’t make use of his 
knowledge. I have seen men whose college 
education was like a grave-stone and kind of 
mark to remind you of the past, but no sort 
of earthly use about getting a living.” 

“ You dear, quaint old soul,” said Dolly 
laughing; “ well, we will give Siah a good fair 
chance: if he wishes to study he shall do so, 
and to-morrow we will consult papa about it.” 

The next day Dolly found “ Siah junior” 
sitting in his father’s boat reading a book 
while two of his brothers waded in the water 
near by. It was plain to be seen that the 
chief business of his life would be tending 
children. He was never permitted to go 
out without one or more, and any mishap 

which befell the younger one was at once 

\ 

charged to Siah. 

Dolly sat down on the side of the boat and 
began to converse with him. 


“ Siah Junior ” as “ Joe j// 

' 

“ What book are you reading, Siah ? ” 

“ Tom Brown , Miss Dolly; it is one Mr. 
Reginald let me take, and it’s very good 
too.” 

“ I am very glad you enjoy it, Siah, but 
you cannot understand some portions of it 
as you will when you are older.” 

Siah confessed that he skipped certain 
portions, and yet he never could get over 
the idea that our Doctor Dick reminded 
him of Tom, or Tom of Doctor Dick, “ only 
I don’t think Mr. Dick would ever forget 
to send the letter home to his mother, would 
he, now ? ” 

“ Perhaps not,” said Dolly, “ but Tom 
wrote a second one, you know, and put in 
some forget-me-nots.” 

“ Yes,” responded Siah with a slow delib¬ 
erate drawl, “ but I think Doctor Dick is a 
forget-me-not himself; you see I notice 
more, Miss Dolly, cause I haven’t any own 
mother and most of us, except Mr. Jack and 
the Doctor, is alike about that.” 


312 


Doctor Dich. 


“ Never mind, Siah, you have good friends, 
and your aunt loves you dearly; why, even 
now she is planning something which will 
make a man of you, if you only half try your¬ 
self.” 

“ If trying would do it, Miss Dolly, I 
could pull as hearty as any one; but>you see 
I must always stay right here and do as I 
am told and mind these here little minnows 
until I’m of age, unless father gives me 
my time.” 

“ Minnows, Tom ? ” 

“ Why, the little ones; you know I’ve 
kind of got in the way of calling them 
that.” 

Dolly smiled and proceeded to tell the boy 
of the good things in store for him, conclud¬ 
ing her chat with, “ your future all depends 
on yourself, Siah.” 

The boy was silent for a time. The book 
which he had been reading was now turned 
upon its face and his eyes were fixed on 
something far over the sea. Dolly wondered 


“ Siah Junior ” as “ Joe? 


3*3 


what he was thinking of, but she did not dis¬ 
turb him. At length he spoke: 

“ I was thinking, Miss Dolly,” he said, still 
looking at the water, “ that it can’t all quite 
depend on me after all; you see some folks 
keeps knocking into you all the way along 
and slapping at you just as those white caps 
are striking that yacht out yonder.” 

“ But the yacht comes steadily on, Siah.” 

“ Yes, Miss Dolly, and she could come a 
sight easier and quicker if the wind and the 
water didn’t pull against the stearin’ of the 
man inside.” 

“ And yet the man inside is so strong and 
so sure that he is right, and he so well under¬ 
stands the wind and waves, that the yacht 
will come safely to her moorings.” 

“ Perhaps so,” said the boy, “ but when 
the water pours over the scuppers, I guess 
he will wish he could tack, or put his feet 
safe on shore; now it may not seem so 
plain to you, Miss Dolly, as it does to me, 
but I know those slappin’ waves would make 


314 Doctor Dick . 

me awful mad, and I should bring her round 
on the wrong tack; in fact, I am almost 
sure that the fellows would rile me up worse 
than the wind, if they should twit me about 
fishin’ and all that; you may not believe it, 
Miss Dolly, but I’m as proud as Auntie and 
just as quick to feel a slight. I don’t believe 
I could steer a straight course all by my¬ 
self.” 

*“ You forget who helps us when we most 
need help,” said Dolly. “You will never 
steer all by yourself, Siah. I wish I had 
known before how you felt about this, and 
I might have helped you sooner; why didn’t 
you speak to me ? ” 

“ Well, you see, Miss Dolly, I couldn’t. 
I've tried lots of times, and once when you 
was sitting out there on the rocks painting, 
I tried four or five times to tell you what I 
had been thinking of for so long, and al¬ 
though you’ve 'been so kind and good, I 
couldn’t. I can’t help thinking of the day 
up to school when I spoke a piece. I had 


“ Siah junior ” as “ Joe? 


315 


said it over and over, down there on the 
rocks, and when the master called on me 
I was almost scared to death, but after a 
little while I didn’t see the heads of the 
scholars, I only saw the sea and the waves, 
and I talked to them, and when I got through 
the master said, ‘ Dodge, you have given 
us the best thing yet; you will make a fine 
'speaker some day.’ I was so glad I trem¬ 
bled, Miss Dolly ; I couldn’t help it, and I 
hadn’t a soul to be glad with. Auntie was 
at your house then, and father don’t care 
much, and when I came out of school the 
fellows all shouted, ‘ Here comes the elo¬ 
quent Squire Fishflakes ! ’ I’ve never tried 
to do my best since then, Miss Dolly; it 
don’t pay to get the ill-will of everybody, so 
now when I learn some of the nice pieces 
in your books, I always say them to the sea, 
and that doesn’t hurt anybody.” 

Was there a little moisture" in the moth¬ 
erless boy’s eyes as he finished speaking, or 
did Dolly imagine it? It mattered not to 


316 


Doctor Dick . 


her, the boy’s hidden nature had come to 
light, and her tenderness hastened to meet 
it, and never again permit him to feel any 
success a pain. With the genuine woman¬ 
liness which governed her at all times, she 
moved nearer the boy, and put her arm 
about him. 

“You good, brave boy,” said she; “here¬ 
after you must tell me all about your hopes 
and plans and fears, and let me be proud 
of you. The winds and waves can never 
touch you while you have such a stout 
heart, and I must have you recite every one 
of the pieces you have learned. Why, Siah, 
your teacher was right, of course, and one 
of these days we shall hear of you.” 

The boy’s eyes glistened, but he said sadly, 
still overpowered by a sense of his class¬ 
mates’ unkindness: 

“ I could never amount to much, Miss 
Dolly; there would always be some one to 
twit me about the fish.” 

It was like our Dolly to grow eloquent 


“ Siah Junior ” as “ Joe” 317 

with such a text; the very atmosphere in 
which her father lived made narrowness 
impossible. With flashing eyes she said: 

“You foolish boy! don’t you know the 
grandest men the world has ever known 
were once poor and humble ? The story 
of the dear Christ himself forever ends the 
sneers of coarse people. They cannot hurt 
you, Siah; if they do, it will only be for a 
moment — until you ‘ make a tack,’ as you 
say, and bring yourself up grandly and 
bravely to battle with wind and waves. 
The world is neither cruel nor as cold as 
some would have us think. Your talent is God’s 
gift, and men must everywhere feel his power.” 

“ Yes, Miss Dolly,” said the boy, more 
hopeful and yet not fully assured, “ but you 
are a young lady with heaps of friends and 
an educated father and all your people are 
ladies and gentlemen; you can’t know how 
it feels to have people jealous and say mean 
things when you are trying hard and there is 
no one to help you.” 


Doctor Dick . 


3*3 

Poor Dolly ! she thought of her own lonely 
hours, of the bitterness which she had over¬ 
come when Dick found her at the organ, and 
her womanly instinct led her straight to the 
boy’s trouble. 

“ Siah,” she said gently — so gently that the 
boy turned his eyes upon her, awed by her 
voice — “I don’t think you can ever under¬ 
stand all I have had to suffer ; not exactly as 
you have done, perhaps, and yet a hurt is a 
hurt, whether we cut our fingers or step on 
sharp rocks. When I was at school I en¬ 
dured taunts and sne’ers too ; it was my fate 
to get the highest marks for reading, music, 
and composition, and I had a nickname 
given me by jealous girls who were not so 
fortunate ; I can’t tell you how I used to 
mourn over it and even cry, but now I look 
back and smile as I think of it: just as you 
will some day. Why, once, Siah, I was so 
sore and wounded by the stabs I had that I 
exchanged my composition with the most 
stupid girl in the class, and I heard her 


“ Siah Junior ” as “ Joe!' jig 

praised while mine, or the one I read, was 
said to be an inferior production.” 

Siah began to look hopeful. 

“ Now I know,” said Dolly, “ that I should 
not have done it; my work was my own and 
one should always be just, even to one’s self'; 
but I was more anxious then to win friends 
than to show myself brave and true. When 
I told papa about it he said, ‘ Always re¬ 
member this, my child: you can never 
change the envious, uncharitable or jealous 
people in the world, by pandering to their 
tastes; stand firmly ahd squarely for the 

right, if you stand alone, and the end will be 

_ > >> 
peace. 

“ Thank you, Miss Dolly,” said Siah as he 
closed Tom Brown and prepared to go 
home; “ if I ever do get beyond the fish- 
flakes, you and your folks will be more help 
than the fairest wind ; and after all, the waves 
can’t do much hurt slapping on the outside.” 

“ Not a bit, Siah, if the boat is snug and 
ship-shape inside.” 


Doctor Dick. 


320 

Siah heard his step-mother’s shrill voice 
calling him to dinner, so he made the “min¬ 
nows ” leave their play and hurried away 
over the beach. Dolly still sat upon the old 
boat thinking of the boy. She had not time 
to mature any plans concerning him when 
she heard his voice again close by her side. 

“ I just run back to say, Miss Dolly, that 
I wish you and the rest of them would 
please call me Joe, if it don’t make any dif¬ 
ference to you. You see,” said the boy dig¬ 
ging the toe of his right shoe in the sand, 
“Siah junior seems to be a piece of father, 
and I would rather be a piece by myself; 
and Joe is more handy.” 

“Joe it shall be, then,” said Dolly, “and I 
confess I like it better myself.” 

“ I hope it won’t seem silly to you,” said 
the boy with blushes peeping through the 
tanned cheek, “ but you might just give the 
rest a hint, und after a while it will come 
easy. I’ve thought about it a good deal 
and I don’t see why a man or a boy should 


“Siah Junior ” as “Joe” 321 

carry about a name all his life that he don’t 
like, and call it his, just because somebody 
gave it to him when he couldn’t help 
himself.” 

“ A capital idea,” said Dolly. “Why, Joe, 
if you have been thinking to such purpose 
all these years, when we supposed you were 
stupid or indifferent, you will make us all 
ashamed of ourselves ; however, I am to be 
your god-mother, you know, and you must 
come to me with all your troubles.” 

“ Thank you, Miss Dolly ; I think I could 
talk to you after this and you’ll please tell me 
when I am steering wrong, won’t you. I 
could tack easier, you see, with your hand 
on the rudder.” 

• Homely, freckled-faced Joe ran away again, 
and not long after Dolly heard the step¬ 
mother saying: 

“ For land sakes ! Siah junior, do mind this 
baby a little; you don’t do enough to earn 
your salt.” 

That night in Doctor Warrington’s study 


322 


Doctor Dick . 


the chief topic of conversation was Siah 
junior, for Dolly told his story in such a 
sweet, pathetic manner, that each one felt a 
little condemned. 

“ So it ever is,” said the Doctor; “we are 
always overlooking gems; we need the 
microscopic power of the Everlasting Love to 
see the goodness in each human soul.” 






CHAPTER XXIII. 

A BACK SEAT. 

must not be supposed for one mo¬ 
ment that our young people were 
always together and constantly planning 
pleasure excursions; far from it. Mrs. 
Miller still retained the house which her 
aunt had taken for the season, and there 
Mrs. Thorpe found a quiet, restful home 
after her hard service in hospitals. 

Mrs. Birney went back to Philadelphia 
early in the season, leaving Cora with Dolly. 

Mrs. Budd on her return from Europe 
exerted herself to entertain the young peo¬ 
ple, and in various ways she succeeded ; but 

3 2 3 



324 - 


Doctor Dick . 


the dearest hours were spent in the Doctor’s 
room overlooking the sea. There, as the 
days grew cooler and shorter, our friends 
gathered about, while the Doctor sat before 
the open fire in the early morning and even¬ 
ing, or was rolled in the chair upon the 
veranda when the sun shone brightly. It 
would be impossible to mention all the books 
which were either discussed or read, all the 
bright, nonsensical and witty speeches made 
during those pleasant days; and as to the 
laughter and noise, who can ever tell the 
precise thing which excited mirth ? 

A few days before the merry group broke 
up, a little affair occurred which created much 
amusement when it was found that no se¬ 
rious results followed. 

Doctor Dick proposed that the young 
people should take a drive about Cape Ann 
in a generous open wagon, and return by 
moonlight. The proposition met with favor 
and Josiah was sent to prepare for the occa¬ 


sion. 


A Bade Seat . 


325 

Harvard Budd begged the young people to 
make use of a more elegant vehicle, but Dick 
and the younger boys were firm; it was to be a 
genuine frolic, and they wished to see the 
country. ' 

A long wagon was accordingly fitted up 
with seats, and the gay party left home after 
an early dinner. The back seat was given 
Dolly and Cora; maid Marion was sand¬ 
wiched between Charley and Ned. Mrs. 
Miller rode on the middle seat, because it 
was easier, and Reggie sat with her, “ to pre¬ 
serve order/’ he said. Mrs. Thorpe did not 
feel equal to the occasion, consequently 
Dick, Harvard Budd, Walter, little Bertie 
and Budd’s brother filled up the remaining 
seats, leaving only room enough for the 
driver, an experienced whip, well known in 
that locality as a Jehu John.” 

The drive, as every one knows, is fine 
beyond description, for the pine woods ven¬ 
ture down to the sea, and one enjoys that 
rare combination of odors, seldom experi- 


326 


Doctor Dick. 


enced elsewhere: the sweet pitchy smell 
of the pines, and the bracing saltness of the 
sea. 

The openings are so charming too ! All 
along the way one can see the summer 
homes of men and women known to fame, 
and over the hill-tops the tower study of 
that genuine lover of the pure and good in 
God and man — Rev. Doctor Bartol. 

As the horses danced and pranced along 
their way, the young people greeted every 
one, whether strangers or friends, with wav¬ 
ing kerchiefs and sometimes even cheers. 
How they sang in the woods, and rambled 
on the shore ! How they joked and laughed, 
and at last sat down to eat a hearty supper 
at the hotel in Rockport, we can only men¬ 
tion, for as the stars came out and the moon 
rose Mrs. Miller called them to order and 
insisted on returning to their homes. 

The witchery of that moonlight drive 
could not possibly be described. Dick tried 
in vain to change the order of their going, 


A Back Seat . 


327 


and prepare for himself a cosy position near 
the girls; but even his strategy failed, and 
the seats were arranged as before. 

For some distance on their way the girls 
sang song after song with a fearlessness and 
earnestness unknown to any parlor perform¬ 
er ; and then jokes and stories were told 
on the front seats, which were only faintly 
heard by Cora and Dolly. 

“ Drive fast in the dark places, and go 
slow in the moonlight,” said Bertie, whose 
nervous fears were aroused by the dense 
darkness of some portions of the road. 

Jehu John heard and obeyed; and thus it 
came to pass that an accident occurred which 
might have been terrible in its consequences. 
As they were driving rapidly on and the 
young men were engaged in singing a col¬ 
lege glee, Dick interrupted himself to call 
out: “ Sing, girls, unless you are tired out! ” 
and Marion on turning about to repeat the 
order, found not only the girls missing, but 
the entire back seat. Terror immediately 


328 


Doctor Dick . 


seized on the party, and Reggie, with a 
smothered cry, sprang from his seat into the 
roadway, quickly followed by Doctor Dick 
and Harvard Budd. Jack was about to fol¬ 
low them, but remained at Mrs. Millers 
request; and Jehu John turned his horses 
as quickly as possible. 

Never did Reginald Gresham run faster 
than that night through the dust and dark¬ 
ness ; never did Doctor Dick call more ten¬ 
derly the name of Dolly; and as for 
Harvard Budd, he strode away like a young 
madman, muttering to himself. 

Dolly was found first, curled up by the 
roadside, a little stunned, but otherwise un¬ 
harmed. A short distance from her Cora 
lay senseless, her head upon the exposed 
root of a large tree. 

Dolly soon recovered herself and said she 
felt the seat slipping away under them, but 
there was no time to call; and they drove 
away so rapidly she could not make then 
hear. 


A Back Seat. 


329 


Jehu John now came up with the party 
and expressed his indignation when he 
learned that a sliding seat had been put on 
the rear end of the wagon without anything 
to secure it. 

Dolly with the aid of the boys brushed 
her dusty garments and found her missing 
hat, while the young gentlemen lifted Cora 
tenderly into the wagon, and placed her 
head in Mrs. Miller’s lap. It was only a 
short distance to the nearest house, where 
Harvard Budd had already betaken himself 
to ask for restoratives, and by the time our 
party reached it the kind ladies were on the 
porch with bottles of ammonia, cologne, cam¬ 
phor, bay rum and various other compounds ; 
enough, Dick afterwards said, “ to drown 
Cora in at once.” 

To the joy of all she soon rallied, and at¬ 
tempted to laugh over the affair; but even 
her gay spirits and strong will could not con¬ 
ceal the fact that she was suffering severe 
pain, and all were anxious to reach the cot- 


Doctor Dick . 


330 

tage as soon as possible, although at Cora’s 
request they still sang and enjoyed the beau¬ 
tiful evening as much as possible under the 
circumstances. 

As the party drove up to the porch, a 
cheerful voice called out: “Aha! this is 
the way you mourn my absence, is it ? ” 
and there before them stood Doctor Mil¬ 
ler. 

Never was unexpected guest more wel¬ 
come. Dick explained the case in a 
few brief words, and in a twinkling the good 
doctor had Cora in his arms and would not 
relinquish his burden until she was safely 
deposited on the bed in Dolly’s room. 

“ Please don’t make a great fuss over 
me,” said Cora pleadingly; “it is only my 
back, Doctor Miller, and I shall be all right 
to-morrow.” 

Doctor Miller smiled and hoped she would; 
he should do his best to have her all right; 
meantime Mrs. Miller and Miss Dolly 
might put the young lady in proper costume 


A Back Seat. 


33* 


for the night, and he would return when 
called for. 

Before the family retired the doctor in¬ 
formed them that the blow on the head was 
very slight, but the injury to the spine he 
feared might prove more serious, conse¬ 
quently Miss Cora must consent to remain 
in a reclining posture for a few days, or she 
would not be able to continue her studies at 
Vassal*. This intelligence was a sad thing 
to Dolly, for every hour was provided for 
while Cora remained ; and as to the invalid 
herself, she hid a few rebellious tears and then 
resolved to make herself and others as happy 
as possible. 

Cora’s door stood open all day and many 
offerings of flowers and fruit were showered 
upon her by the boys. Doctor Miller de¬ 
voted himself to her service, and even Doc¬ 
tor Warrington wrote comical little notes or 
bits of rhyme, which Bertie delighted to de¬ 
liver. 

It was not thought best to notify Mrs. 


332 


Doctor Dick. 


Birney, as Cora was rapidly gaining, and 
with Mrs. Thorpe, Mrs. Miller, Dolly and 
Miss Lucinda as nurses, what more could 
be desired ? 

In a few days she was among them, look¬ 
ing a trifle pale, but still unwilling to admit 
that she was not quite herself. Doctor Miller, 
however, informed his friends that Miss 
Cora would suffer for many months, and 
thus the memory of their pleasant moon¬ 
light drive was tinned with sadness. 

During Cora’s captivity our young friend 
Siah junior, or, as we must now call him, 
“Joe” came out in a new character, much 
to the surprise of the household, with the 
single exception of Dolly. 

Every day he read the papers carefully 
and made a condensed report of important 
affairs, which he furnished for the use of 
Cora in the form of a bulletin. 

These bulletins were Miss Cora’s delight, 
and as the shy, homely boy was permitted 
to pin them on the wall before her, his 


A Back Seat . 


333 


pleasure fairly transfigured his face. His 
devotion to Miss Cora was the outcome of 
his regard for Dolly; in his eyes the latter 
was simply perfect. The poor boy’s mo¬ 
ments of leisure were few indeed, but 
very precious. At night, when those 
distracting children known as the “ min¬ 
nows ” were asleep, the boy would steal away 
and perch himself on the railing of the little 
balcony near Miss Dolly’s window, where he 
could hear the reading, now so pleasant to 
his ears. 

“ If I trouble you, Miss Dolly, I will go 
away,” he said when first she found him 
there ; “ I only stay while you read or sing; 
and it makes all to-morrow a little easier, 
you see.” 

“ Come every evening, Joe,” said Dolly 
kindly, “ you must be tired out with the 
children all day and every day; you are 
very welcome to such crumbs of pleasure as 
you get here.” 

Sometimes Joe ventured to ask a question, 


334- 


Doctor Dick . 


sometimes he gave utterance to a comment 
so quaint and original that Cora would insist 
on writing it down. 

“ Well, Joe,” said Dolly one mild evening 
when Cora had joined the family down 
stairs, “ you must still find a seat near us, 
for soon we shall be scattered abroad.” 

Joe’s face was unusually sad. 

“We shall not be scattered much,” said 
Walter, “if Joe goes with us; and that is 
your latest plan, cousin Dolly.” 

It was indeed the plan of plans, poor Joe 
thought, for he would spend the winter 
again in Cambridge, and attend school. No 
more would he wait upon the “ minnows,” or 
rock the baby when he was longing to read 
or copy some of the beautiful pieces which 
so interested him in the books which he 
found about the house. This mania for 
copying became one of the boy’s chief de¬ 
lights, and Dolly soon found that the thing 
he copied he never forgot; beside, he im¬ 
proved rapidly in penmanship. 


A Back Seat. 


335 


When the boys returned to Cambridge 
Joe was, in a certain sense, the ward of the 
family. His aunt fashioned for him suitable 
garments out of the many donated by the 
young gentlemen, and Joe’s teachers at 
school pronounced him a boy of promise. 

Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Thorpe did not for¬ 
get him, and even Cora sent him cheering 
little gifts from time to time. 

In all the world’s work one little grain of 
good grows like a seed and branches out 
and reaches up until none can tell of its 
power. 

The effort for Joe made people in their 
summer homes think of others as they had 
never done before. Mrs. Budd found 
another family where a timid, pretty girl was 
longing for an education, and was reaching 
after it in an uncertain way; her case once 
relieved other boys and girls were found, 
and the sweet spirit of universal help grew 
until a Union was formed and a library was 
gathered slowly, but surely, bringing with it 


33 & 


Doctor Dick . 


the endless uplifting which good books must 
ever do. Then came simple lectures and 
object teaching, and no room was left for 
evil, for it was driven out in such a busy 
place. 

No one dreamed that all this work sprang 
from the seed sown in that modest cottage ; 
and yet such was the truth. 

The people at the cottage hardly knew it 
themselves; for it often happens that the de¬ 
signer and original mover in a grand work is 
wholly unknown. This is God’s way of 
saying that persons are mere instruments in 
his hands, and when no longer needed they 
are put aside. 

Mrs. Neville wrote to the boys when they 
were once more settled at their studies that 
it would give her great pleasure to spend a 
few weeks with them, but the doctors still 
ordered quiet for her and prophesied evil if 
she tried the New England climate. 

Ned and Walter entered the School of 
Technology, while Charlie, owing to the in- 


A Back Seat . 


337 


jury which still caused terrible headaches, 
kept pace with his twin by reciting to Reg¬ 
gie and the Doctor. 

General Gresham returned to his duties, 
convinced that his boys were in excellent 
hands, and it was wise to let them remain 
there until the elder ones might graduate. 

Bertie could not bear the thought of 
leaving his dear Dolly or the merry group 
at the “Annex,” and the physicians agreed 
that it was far better for him to be surround¬ 
ed by brothers and cousins, lest he might 
grow more dreamy if not morbid. 

# Dolly was very busy, as usual, in various 
ways. Her father required more care as 
the cold weather advanced, and although he 
was still patient and gentle, it was plain to 
see that little things disturbed him. 

Dolly’s music was her chief delight, as it 

had ever been, and every opportunity to en- 

• 

joy a fine concert or a choice opera was 
eacmrlv embraced. 

O ./ 

All the long winter our young people 


33$ 


Doctor Dick. 


were as busy as bees and very merry. 

Miss Lucinda declared it was the shortest 
season she'ever knew, and Aunt Axy, who 
was growing gray and feeble, thought a 
poor old soul didn’t need any better spot 
on de wide earth than livin’ wid our young 
folks. 

At Christmas time General Gresham 
joined the family and dear Mrs. Miller sur¬ 
prised them by appearing with her husband 
and hosts of presents when all the party 
were wishing for them. 

“ If I could have my way,” said Mrs. Mil¬ 
ler, “ I would appoint universal family gath¬ 
erings at Christmas time and furnish each 
and all with money enough to have a good 
rejoicing.” 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


LITTLE DODE. 

'til -^UE to her promise to her aunt, 
Mrs. Miller began teaching Dode. 
It was by no means an easy task. Dode 
was fond of music, learned verses readily, and 
would sing either prose or poetry to music 
of her own composing, but she declined 
to write, saying she “ wrote well ’nough 
now ; ” and as to “ figgerin,’ ” Dode thought 
it 4 ' jis like crazy folks. ’Spose nine does 
go into twenty-eight free times, and one 
moah, who keers ? ” said Dode. 

“ But look, Dode, see how we arrange it: 
if I give you twenty-eight cents and you 

339 


34° 


Doctor Dick . 


wish to divide it equally between three 
people, don’t you see — ” 

“Yes, Missis, I sees; but when you gives 
me twenty any cents, I wants to keep ’em 
my own self.” 

After struggling with the queer child 
for three months, Mrs. Miller consulted 
Dick and Dolly. The former said: 

“ Send her to school at once. When she 
finds that other children study she may 
like it better.” 

Dolly said : 

“ I understand Dode. All the time, 
money, and patience in the world, would 
not make her a scholar. Music is her gift. 
I should cultivate her voice, and in doing 
that she will find it necessary to study 
other things.” 

Dode was then taken to an excellent 
teacher of vocal music, and, as Dolly pre¬ 
dicted, soon felt ashamed of her ignorance. 

Mrs. Miller was now occupying her 
former home in New York; the doctor was 


Little Dode . 


34i 


still in the service of the government, but 
the settlement of Mrs. Follansbee’s estate 
made her presence necessary in New York. 

She made numerous flying visits to Boston 

« 

and Cambridge with Mrs. Van Cleve, and 
during one of these she related her experi¬ 
ence with Dode at the music master’s. 

“ I had arranged matters with Professor 
Score the day previous and told him he 
would have a peculiar pupil. When we 
entered, Dode espied the professor’s grand 
piano in the reception room, and before 
I could forbid it she was drumming away. 

“ Professor Score had never had a colored 
pupil before, and indeed I think he secretly 
wished he had not consented to take her ; 
but he soon appeared in the doorway, with 
his finger on his lips, wishing me to let her 
play as she pleased. Dode does not play 
well, as you know, but somehow or some¬ 
where she has picked up some knowledge 
of the key-board, and she at once began 
to sing, drumming her accompaniment, now 


34* 


Doctor Dick . 


loud, now soft, according to her song. This 
was her song:—I never heard it before and 
I mistrust Dode never did. When she 
began Professor Score was shaking with 
laughter; when she finished he said, ‘Ah 
madam, ah, I see nature has laid de 
foundation-stone.’ ” 

DODE’S SONG. 

Does yer know what de birds is a-saying 
In de tree tops all ob de day, 

Does yer know how de wind is a-talkin’, 

Or de words what de little bees say ? 

Does yer know whar de flower gits its sweetness 
Which yer smells on de bright summer day? 
Does yer know why I sings and is happy, 

Or why de little cats lub to play ? 

“ ‘ Dode,’ I said, as she paused, ‘ this is 
your music-master. If you will try to 
learn I am sure he will help you, and 
perhaps you can some day sing in church.’ 
“ Dode wheeled about on the music 


Little Dode . 


343 


stool, and turned her bright eyes on the 
professor. 

‘“Yes, Mess,’said he with a polite bow, 
4 I will make you work hard but ze rec¬ 
ompense shall come.’ 

“ ‘ What is that ? ’ asked Dode. 

“ 4 Ze reward, Mess. Ze fine voice ; ze 
grand power to make people listen ; ze 
immense compass and ze love of music.’ 

“ 4 Oh,’ said Dode complacently, 4 1 allers 
wants folks to listen when I sing.’ 

44 4 I see, madam, ze young lady have con¬ 
fidence. It is good.’ 

44 4 I hope Dode will work,’ I said. 4 If 
she does not, vou must let me know and her 
lessons will be discontinued.’ 

44 4 I’ll work,’ said Dode; ‘singing ain’t 
work; singin’ is talkin’ to de angels, and 
de mammy she wants me to sing cause 
den dey won’t call me Dumpy Dode no 
moah ; dey won’t ’spise me, cause my back 
is crooked, and I is poor, and little and 
black. I kin work, and I kin dream, cause 


344 


Doctor Dick. 

yer see when yer sings somthin’ fine and 
sweet, de dream runs all froo and froo it 
and yer don’t keer for lickings nor de sassy 
boys on de street.’ 

“ Professor Score looked pleased. Dode 
was talking to him, with her large eyes 
fixed on his face and her woolly head 
shaking. I think the child almost forgot 
me, she was so delighted to find herself 
in the presence of one who could teach 
her how to ‘sins: to the angels.’ 

o o 

“When I left them she was sinmno: the 

o o 

Gloria in Excelsis , as he requested her 
to sing some church music. 

“ ‘ I kin sing de Glory Excellencis what 
Miss Dolly teached me,’ said she, and as 
she reached the upper notes I saw him 
rub his hands with delight, and I stole 
away.” 

“ And she is really doing well, is she ? ” 
asked Dolly. 

“ Oh yes, and the desire of her heart 
is to sing in Miss Dolly’s choir some day ” 


Little Dode . 


345 


“ Cousin Dolly can’t have a choir,” said 
Bertie, “ she is going to Richmond when 
I go, and always live there with me.” 

“We cannot tell anything about it now, 
dear,” said Dolly kindly; “ when the big 
boys are out of college we can think of 
our travels. Until then we are fixtures.” 

“ But Dode said she should sing in 
Miss Dolly’s choir some day,” said Bertie. 

“Yes, I dare say it would be a proud 
moment for her, poor child,” said Dolly 
thoughtfully; “ but I fear it will be a long 
time before she is ready, and perhaps no 
one will want me to play the organ 
then.” 

“ Colonel Brentford thinks you should 
go abroad and devote yourself to your 
musical studies,” said Mrs. Miller. 

“ That is simply impossible,” said Dolly 
briefly. 

Not many days after Mrs. Miller’s re¬ 
turn Dolly received a note from her former 
pupil. Dode had evidently taken great 


346 Doctor Dick . 

care in preparing it, and yet the blots 
outnumbered the lines. 

At the request of the family, Dolly read 
it aloud to them. 

It was addressed to “ Miss Dolly War¬ 
rington, Cambridge, State of Mass., North 
America,” and was enclosed in a letter 
from Mrs. Miller. The entire production 
read as follows: 

“ Dear Lady Miss Dolly : 

“ I write this to tell you I kan sing 

an annthem bailed ‘Jesus Luver of my 

/ 

soul,’ and I like to sing it every day. 

“ Mr. Score is funny, he snaps his fin¬ 
gers when he is pleezed and pulls my ear 
when I sing wrong. I don’t mind, cause 
my ears is like one of de mules on dat 
hill in Georgetown, dey is long and tuff. 

“ I shall sing in your church some day. 
Mr. Score says I kan, an’ I hope your 
pa will be there to hear me, an’ Miss 
Miller an’ all our folks an’ de ole mammy. 
“Yer ought to see mammy when she 


Little Dode . 


347 


heerd me sing one day ; she jist laffed and 
cried and laffed. Mammy’s terrible weepy, 
she’s so fat she han’t help it. 

“ Miss Miller gives me real nice close 
an’ when de girl who sings before me is 
late I like to show ’em to her, cause she 
seems to think she has all der is in dis 
world and a white skin too. 

“ I tell you I was awful tickled, Miss 
Dolly, when Mr. Score says one day 4 come 
here, Miss Dode, and sing dis strain for 
Miss Wentirmeyer,’ an’ I sung it loud and 
clear, an’ Mr: Score he snapped his fingers 
and said it was ‘ verra goot,’ and that 
spiteful white girl made a face at me. I 
wanted to make one back, but I remembered 
what you had told me about such things, 
an’ so I jist puckered my nose a little 
easy to let her know I didn’t care for 
her white skin one bit; but I didn’t sass 
back, Miss Dolly, I never does now, only 
I jist showd ’em dey never need try to 
onpose on me. 


34* 


Doctor Dick . 


“ I was glad you had de parlor con* 
cert, Miss Miller told me about, and I 
’low you played best of ’em all. I told 
Mr. Score heaps of things about you, and 
he says you are ‘ verra fine mess/’ an’ I 
told him he would open his eyes wide 
to hear you make de organ talk on 
Sunday in de ole church at home. 

“ Pleez speak kind to all the young 
gentlemen for me, and exkuse all mistakes, 
cause writin’ is harder than sinedncr.” 

“ Yours in kind love, 

Dode.” 

“ I call that a good letter,” said Dolly, 
as she folded the paper, “and I am quite 
proud of my pupil.” 

“No wonder,” said Reggie; “when you 
first pointed her out to me she seemed 
the most stupid child I ever saw.” 

“ Kindness and care will make unlove¬ 
liness lovely,” said the doctor. “ Poor 
little Dode has found a new world.” 

“ And the drollest part of it all is,” 


Little Dode . 


349 


said Dr. Dick, “ that the little imp persist¬ 
ently refuses to call the professor anything 
but Mr. At first he was quite indignant, 
but he smiles now and lets her do as she 
pleases. ‘ Never mind how I speaks, sir,’ 
said she, ‘ long as I sings all right.’ ” 

So little Dode went on her way im¬ 
proving daily in her music, and surprising 
all who heard her with her wonderful voice. 
She grew to be fond of dress, and Mrs. 
Miller was obliged to check her fondness 
for display, but her singing was simplicity 
and sweetness itself; she forgot her de¬ 
formed body, the cruel sneers of old play¬ 
mates, the lofty scorn of her associate 
pupils, and all the miseries of her small 
world. Her voice was Heaven’s own gift, 
and with it she did indeed “ sing to the 
angels.” 

Mrs. Miller found it a hard task to in¬ 
struct Dode in the English branches, and 

it was not until she assured her that she 

• 

would never be able to sing the beautiful 


350 


Doctor Dick . 


French and Italian music which she had 
heard Miss Dolly and Miss Cora practice, 
unless she first mastered the English, that 
the girl’s ambition was roused, and she 
consented to spend several hours each day 
in the library poring over books. 

Professor Score grew to be quite fond 
of his strange pupil, and sometimes when 
the long evenings brought him a little 
leisure, he would stroll in the direction of 
Mrs. Miller’s residence with a book under his 
arm containing a sketch of Mozart, Beetho¬ 
ven, or one of the many masters in his pro¬ 
fession. Mrs. Miller always gave the lonely 
foreigner cordial greeting, and as she read 
aloud he would rub his hand in delight, and 
occasionally interrupt the reader with “ Ah, 
there was inspiration, Miss Dode,” or, “ you 
see ze work now, Miss Dode, ze patient, long, 
hard work which makes ze success possible.” 

Thus Dode grew to be a lover of 
artists as well as art, and when Christmas 
came and brought her from Miss Dolly 


Little Dode. 


35 * 


and the young gentlemen a fine picture 
of Beethoven, the girl danced before it 
like an Indian and fairly cried with joy. 

Dode’s peculiar temper was a trial to 
her kind friend. For several days she 
would seem sunny and bright, and then 
a wave of temper would control her, or 
as Dode herself said, she had “ a tearing 
tantrum.” 

Every one knows that tantrums are un¬ 
pleasant things to have in the house, and 
poor Dode not only suffered herself but 
made everyone else suffer. 

One morning while Doctor Miller was 
absent Dode rose in a rebellious mood. 
It had been snowing a little outside, and 
the sidewalks were very wet and sloppy. 

As Dode came down dressed for her 
walk to the music rooms, Mrs. Miller dis¬ 
covered that the only covering for her 
feet was a pair of rather thin boots. 

“You must put on rubbers to-day, Dode,” 
said Mrs. Miller kindly. 


352 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Reckon not,” replied the girl in an 
ungracious tone. 

“You must be careful about taking cold, 
or you will lose your voice,” responded 
Mrs. Miller, “ and your light overshoes 
are just the thing to-day.” 

Dode tossed her head and re-arranged 
her hat, but did not get the rubbers. 

Mrs. Miller waited patiently in the hall 
while Dode pulled her hat now this way, 
now that. At last the obstinate girl ap¬ 
proached the door and began to open it. 

“ Dode,” said Mrs. Miller firmly, “ you 
must obey me, and put on your overshoes.” 

“ Takes two to say must and keep it,” 
said Dode in a defiant tone, as she threw 
the door back with a jerk and descended 
the steps. 

Mrs. Miller watched her from the window 
for a moment, and her heart sank within 
her. If Dode could not respect her wishes 
for love, would it be wise to use force, or 
must she wait and shame the girl ? 


Little Dode . 


353 


It was a difficult question to decide. 
Mrs. Miller did not believe in whipping 
goodness in or badness out; “beside,” she 
argued, “ Dode is quite too old for such 
punishment. I wish Dick or my husband 
could advise me.” Neither were at hand, 
however, and Mrs. Miller resolved to talk 
with Dode on her return, and show her 
the sinfulness of her conduct. 

It was late when the girl again opened 
the door and put her cloak and hat in 
the hall. Mrs. Miller heard her step on 
the stairs, and wondered if she would ask 
pardon for her fault. 

The sewing-room door was ajar when 
Dode knocked and heard a pleasant “ Come 
in ! 

Mrs. Miller glanced down at the girl’s 
feet, and saw that they were wet and 
soiled. 

“ Had an awful lesson this morning,” 
said Dode in an injured tone. “ Mr. Score 
was cross as two sticks.” 


354 - 


Doctor Dick . 


“ He is usually very pleasant,” said Mrs. 
Miller. 

“Wasn’t dis time,” said Dode; “pulled 
my ears twice.” 

“ And you did nothing to vex him ? ” 
asked Mrs. Miller. 

“ Nothin’ oncommon ; how was I to sing 
low and soft, when I was hollerin inside* 
like Seth Jones’ old mule Billy. Folks 
can’t git de sweet out, if de sweet ain’t 
in em r 

Whenever Dode grew earnest or was a 
little cross she forgot her language lessons, 
and talked just like “ de ole mammy.” 

“ Suppose you prove to me that you 
respect sweetness in others by removing 
those wet shoes. They are soiling the 
carpet, you see.” 

Dode rose hurriedly and flounced out of 
the room. 

In an hour she returned with a peculiar 
look on her odd face, and her white teeth 
showing. 


Little Dode . 


355 


“ Miss Miller,” she began. 

“ Mrs. Miller, Dode.” 

“ Well, Mrs . Miller, if I gets sick on 
count of dis tantrum, you jist let me alone, 
will ye, and serve me off good ? ” 

“ I shall not let you suffer, Dode, while 
you are in my house; but I much fear 
you may be ill. Do you remember the 
hoarse cold you had in the autumn, and 
the soreness in your lungs?” 

“ Don’t forget only when I is mad; 
couldn’t sing then.” 

“No, Dode; and with your constitution 
great care is needed, or you will utterly 
lose from abuse the fine voice which God 
has given you.” 

“ I’ll mind next time, shure,” said Dode, 
puckering her face in the drollest manner. 
“You see, Miss, no, Mrs. Miller, nothin’ 
does for me but the stick when I am 
ugly. Mammy knowed it, and mammy could 
lay it on good, I can tell you. I use to 
hate her and fight awful, but after de 


356 


Doctor Dick . 


smartin’ was done so was de ugly, — clean 
gone out. Now ye see I haint got use to 
de soft way yet, an it don’t tingle jist at 
de time like de strap, but I tell you it 
keeps a tingling. I was jist misable, deed 
I was, and Mr. Score he knowed it, only 
he was cross too. When I sang one ob 
de scales I yelled awful, couldn’t help it, 
yer know, and he jist stared at me first, 
and de next time he pulled my ear. It 
kind ob makes you realize dat you aint 
all alone in de world when you gets your 
ear pulled, but somehow I didn’t keer 
half so much for it as I did for your 
lookin’ so sad and sorrowful by de window. 
Your face was right before me de whole 
time, and I reckon you better jist give 
me up an’ let me go back to de ole 
shanty an’ be licked, and swore at, an’ 
pounded. Folks ain’t fit to live if they 
can’t appreciate kindness, and makes their 
friends sick with their tantrums.” 

Dode’s eyes looked suspiciously moist 


Little Dode, 


357 


when she ceased speaking, and Mrs. Miller 
knew that the storm had spent itself, and 
the girl was really penitent. 

How sweetly she reasoned with her, how 
gently she warned her, and tenderly she 
pointed her to the Great Helper who gives 
us the victory over ourselves, if we will but 
ask his aid, all our readers will under¬ 
stand. 

The next day and the next Dode could 
not sing a note, for her throat was very 
sore, and as Mrs. Miller nursed her the 
poor girl was quite overwhelmed. 

After that, whenever Dode’s fitful temper 
began to master her, Mrs. Miller would 
simply whisper in an undertone, “ Rubbers, 
Dode, rubbers,” and in a few moments 
the roguish, almost elfish smile would 
return and Dode would gain the vic¬ 
tory. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


cupid’s captives. 



\T ROBABLY no one outside of the 


immediate family at the “ Annex” ever 
dreamed that its members were tried 
and tempted like other young people, 
either in their own natures, or by outside 
influences. 

Of all the number Jack Montgomery suf¬ 
fered most. His own father had been known 
as a gay man of the world, and jack inherited 
from him a jovial disposition. His genuine 
kindness of heart frequently led him into 
trouble; but deep in his nature was a stub¬ 
born hatred of shams and all deceptions, and 


358 



CupicCs Captives . J5P 

an utter contempt for wrong-doing, even in 
himself. 

“ If I am naturally weak,” said Jack one 
day to Doctor Dick, “ then I must grow 
strong and conquer the weak points.” 

“ You have done grandly, old fellow,” said 
Dick warmly, “ and the ‘ Jolly and Gay ’ boys 
have at last given you up.” 

The “ Jolly and Gay ” boys alluded to 
were members of a small club organized for 
the ostensible purpose of reading essays, but 
in reality wholly given over to games and 
wine-suppers. 

During Jack’s first year in Cambridge he 
had been a member, but after his sorry expe¬ 
rience, which we have related, he declined to 
meet with them or join in their orgies. ‘Had 
Jack been quite alone, without the precious 
home influences which so many kind-hearted 
boys need, we fear he might have yielded to 

the persuasive tongues of his former compan¬ 
ions; but Dolly with her sweet womanly 

trust, his mother with her faith and love, and 


360 


Doctor Dick . 


the dear invalid Doctor’s silent sermons, all 
combined to render Jack strong and, as Dick 
said, “ fire-proof.” 

Dick and Reggie were powerful helpers, 
for they knew better than the family how 
Jack was tempted and how eagerly his wit 
and money were sought for by reckless, care¬ 
less students. 

During the summer at the shore a new 
world had opened to Jack, and quiet Nina 
Moore had hitherto unconsciously held the 
key. She had merely completed the gocd 
work already begun, but her influence would 
only end with her life. 

“Dolly, cousin Dolly,” shouted Dick one 
evening as he came in from a walk, “ I have 
glorious news to tell.” 

Dolly was in her room reading aloud, but 
she quickly ran out, asking with a roguish 
smile if Mrs. Miller was coming to spend 
the Sabbath with them. 

Dick looked disgusted, or at least pre¬ 
tended to, and wished to know if she consid- 


Cupid's Captives . 


361 


ered such a common-place event glorious news. 

“ The very best I can hear,” said Dolly; 
“ and it is to you, sir, if you would confess 
the truth.” 

“ Come into the parlor, cousin Dolly,” 
said Dick, “ and let me tell it as it should be 
told.” 

Dolly laughingly seated herself on the 
music stool and said: “ Proceed, oh, learned 
youth ! ” 

Dick produced a handkerchief from his 
pocket and began to spread it leisurely out 
on his knees. 

“ Great news, cousin Dolly ! ” 

“ So you told me.” 

“ Effects one of our number seriously! ” 

“ Happily, I trust.” 

Dolly was accustomed to Dicks teasing, 
and therefore did not seem anxious. 

“ That depends,” said Dick. “ I think it 
is a good thing ; what do you think ? ” 

“ Of course it is good, if your highness 
thinks so.” 


362 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Don’t be saucy, Cousin Dolly.” 

“ On no account; but permit me to remind 
you that you interrupted my reading.” 

“ I beg pardon, so I did; well, the long 
and short of it is, literally long and short in 
this case — he being long, she being 
short — ” 

Dick paused and folded the handkerchief 
in a fanciful shape, while he watched Dolly 
quietly. 

“ I trust he and she will appreciate your 
announcement.” 

“ I cannot say; you see I am in his confi¬ 
dence.” 

“ He has chosen a safe person,” said Dolly 
quietly. 

“ So I thought; and he fairly bubbled over 
with delight as he told me.” 

“ The expression is not new,” said Dolly; 
u I can’t say that it is quite beautiful.” 

“ I must request you once more, Miss 
Warrington, not to be saucy.” 

“ And I must remind you once more, 


Cupid's Captives . 


363 

Doctor Dick, that my reading is neglected.” 

“True, alas! too true,” retorted Dick; 
“ therefore, Miss Warrington, allow me to in¬ 
form you that our jovial and happy friend, 
Jack Montgomery, is engaged to Miss Nina 
Moore, and that young lady now wears a 
fetter in the shape of an engagement ring.” 

Dolly remained perfectly silent with her 
eyes cast down. 

“ Think of it! our Jack regularly settled 
in life and anchored fast; can’t you say 
something to express your astonishment, 
or are you utterly breathless? ” 

“ I am not astonished,” said Dolly; “Jack 
and Nina told me about it last week, and I 
have already seen the engagement ring.” 

Dick sprang to his feet: “Well, Miss 
Warrington, I must say I like your audacity,” 
said he, half in earnest, half in jest; “ when 
a body tries to tell you a little cheerful 
news, you squelch them with a triumphant 
‘ Oh, I know all about it! ’ ” 

“ And when a young gentleman tells me 


Doctor Dick . 


364 

he has something glorious to relate, I want 
him to relate it,” retorted Dolly. 

“ Seriously,” said Dick as he seated him¬ 
self again, “ don’t you think it a capital 
thing ? ” 

“ That remains to be proved,” said Dolly. 

“ I thought both parties were particular 
friends of yours.” 

“ So they are,” said Dolly; “ or at least 
Jack is; Nina is a very pleasant acquaint¬ 
ance, and I think a very noble girl.” 

“ But she has not yet been admitted into 
the sacred circle of Miss Warrington’s 
friends,” said Dick in a sarcastic tone. 

“ We have never proved each other,” said 
Dolly quietly; “ she is Marion’s friend rather 
than mine, and I think, as I said before, she 
is a noble girl, but you know papa’s test; if a 
man or woman does not love you well 
enough to suffer for or with you, and despite 
all your failings, he or she cannot be a true 
friend; the high meaning of that sacred 
word friend is unknown to them.” 


Cupid's Captives . 


365 


“And you think Jack Montgomery is your 
true friend ? ” asked Dick. 

“ I know it,” said Dolly confidently ; ‘‘ he 
has given us all abundant proof of his re¬ 
spect and love. When he suffered we suf¬ 
fered too — you as well as I; and. when 
Jack gained such a wonderful victory over 
himself and his naturally indolent habits last 
term as to merit special praise, I was as 
proud of him as I should be of a brother. 
He is coming out grandly, and I hope to see 
him a very useful man.” 

“ Won’t Nina help him ? ” asked Dick. 

“ I sincerely hope so; but Nina does not 
yet know Jack as we know him, and she 
must be firm and strong if she intends to 
keep him up to his present ideal of true 
manhood.” 

What Dick Miller thought of the girl be- 

o o 

fore him who discussed this new engagement 
with him in such grave fashion, she did not 
know ; what he said was : 

“ It seems to me our Cousin Dolly is won- 


3 66 


Doctor Dick . 


derfully wise in such matters, and Jack must 
see to it that his pretty Nina is not drilled 
into exacting shrewishness by such-an expert 
teacher.” 

Dick’s propensity for teasing did not les¬ 
sen with his years, but Dolly was less sensi¬ 
tive now and had learned to speak honestly 
and fearlessly despite his roguish eyes and 
mocking tone. 

“ I am not wise in any sense,” replied 
Dolly earnestly, “ but you and I know that 
young people are engaged without the 
slightest thought of their fitness for each 
other. Thanks to my precious father, I 
have been brought to think it a sacred and 
solemn thing, and to me an engagement 
should be the result of a long and intimate 
acquaintance, where both parties understand 
each other fully, and are well acquainted with 
each other’s views, faults, and wishes.” 

“ How long has Jack known Miss Nina ? ” 
asked Dick. 

“ About five months,” replied Dolly; “ but 


Cupid\ 5 - Captives . 367 

circumstances have thus far been in their 
favor.” 

“ And what will dear Mrs. Van Cleve say ? ” 
queried Dick. 

“ She will say as Jack has chosen for him¬ 
self, she will assist him in making his happi¬ 
ness complete; I think she will be a charm¬ 
ing mamma-in-law, and Nina will be loved 
and cared for as she has never been.” 

“ Do tell me something of her history,” 
said Dick. “ I only know that she is con¬ 
nected in some way with the Huntleys and 
is a music teacher.” 

“ I only know it in brief,” said Dolly. 
“ Her mother was a cousin of the Profes- 

t 

sor’s ; the father belonged to an excellent 
family, but his dissipated habits brought him 
to an early grave, and his wife soon followed. 
Since then Nina has taught music, and is 
now educating her little brother, a boy about 
the age of our Joe. 

“ Pier patrons are very kind to her, and 
the Huntleys have offered to give her a home 


368 


Doctor Dick . 


with them. She is too proud to accept and 
lives independently, helping Arthur with his 
studies when she is not engaged in teaching 
music. 

“ Professor Huntley told me she was not 
quite fifteen when she began to teach, and 
now she is obliged to decline pupils; so you 
see our dear old Jack will have a proud and 
gifted little woman, and I hope they will be 
the happiest of the happy.” 

“So do I,” said Dick with emphasis; 
“but how does our friend Budd pros¬ 
per ? ” 

ct I refer you to him for information,” said 
Dolly haughtily, as she rose and returned to 
her room. 

Dick smiled and vaulted up-stairs in his 
usual fashion. 

Jack Montgomery’s engagement was a 
matter of rejoicing among his friends in New 
York. 

“ He is quite too young for that sort of 
thing,” said his step-father, “ but it will steady 


Cupid's Captives. 369 

him down, and the boy has a good bank- 
account of his own.” 

Jack’s mother regarded it much as Dolly 
surmised, and, like a sensible, loving little 
woman said “ Well, it must come sooner or 
later, and I always hoped my Jack would 
select some good girl who needed love and 
happiness. Little Nina shall be made roy¬ 
ally welcome, but the children must not be 
in a hurry.” 

Jack wrote his mother a letter full of his 
sweetheart’s praises, and then added, “ The 
worst of it is, mother, she declares she won’t 
marry me until I have taken the promised 
trip abroad with you and have shown myself 
capable of supporting a family if I should 
lose my fortune. I wish you would reason 
with her, and we could then be married 
immediately after I graduate, and make a 
merry, happy party on our foreign tour.” 

Mrs. Van Cleve in response to her son’s 
entreaty made a little trip to Cambridge, and 
passed a delightful week with Nina and 


3 ?o 


Doctor Dick t 


little Arthur, in their modest rooms, but 
Jack was doomed to disappointment, for his 
mother insisted that Nina was right, and as 
fortunes were unstable things, a man should 
show himself capable of earning as well as 
spending one; consequently Jack returned 
to his studies and registered a solemn vow 
that a little young woman like Miss Nina 
Moore should not shame him or be ashamed 
of him. 

As to Miss Marion and Dolly they made 
much of their friend, whose fate seemed to 
be settled, and many were the musicals 
given for the purpose of showing Nina’s 
skill to admiring friends. 

Jack never worked harder than during his * 
last year, for a pair of hazel eyes were con¬ 
stantly before him, urging him on, and after 
study hours it was so delightful to take a 
walk with Nina or find her at the house 
chatting or singing with Dolly. 

Of course Doctor Dick teased him un¬ 
mercifully, and the younger boys made 


Cupid's Captives . 37* 

rhymes to pin on his book-table, but honest, 
warm-hearted Jack cared not a feather, and 
his only regret was that the shy little maiden 
who held his heart in her keeping, would 
not permit him to lavish all manner of 
elegant presents on her. As to Arthur, he 
was secretly waylaid on his walks to and 
from school, and made happy with all sorts 
of notions dear to a boy’s heart. His opin¬ 
ion of his prospective brother-in-law was 
summed up in one emphatic boyish word, 
too expressive to be considered slang, and 
yet we fear it is so classed. 

“ Well, Artie, what do you think of Jack ? ” 
asked Doctor Dick as he saw the boy opening 
a new knife which the former had just pre¬ 
sented him; and Arthur with a beaming 
face and much force merely said “ Boss ! ” 





CHAPTER XXVI. 


A BREAK IN THE CHAIN. 


HE winter passed rapidly and spring 
found our young people still united. 

“ Oh dear,” said Charlie one day when they 
had all gathered in the parlor for a little re¬ 
hearsal, “ what shall we do when all you big 
fellows graduate? ” 


“ Make a grand spread and invite us in,” 
said Doctor Dick. 

“ Send us all to Europe and pay our 
bills,” said Reggie. 

“ Set us up in business and make the 
business pay,” said Jack Montgomery. 

“ No, sir,” exclaimed Bertie ; “ we will all 


372 


A Break in the Chain, 


373 


live with my papa, in Richmond, won’t we, 
Miss Marion ? ” 

Miss Marion blushed and the boys smiled. 
Bertie’s quick eyes had detected his father’s 
fondness for the young lady, and conse¬ 
quently she was included in his plans. 

“ I was thinking,” said Charlie, “ that your 
commencement would soon be here, and 
that would make the first break in our chain, 
I hate it; I wish we could all keep together 
for twenty years, at least.” 

“ I don’t hate it,” said Dick; “ I long to 
be at work in good earnest, and in a few 
short months my beloved sweetheart and I 
will be en route to Europe.” 

“ Which sweetheart ? ” asked Ned with 
a sly twinkle. 

“ I have but one, young man,” said Dick ; 
“ and the worst of it is, every fellow loves 
her nearly as well as I do.” 

“ And every girl too,” said Dolly; te we all 
claim a share in Dick’s mother.” 

“And yet, Miss Dolly Warrington re- 


374 


Doctor Dick . 


fuses to go abroad with her,” said Dick. 

“ Because Miss Warrington insists on doing 
the duty next her hand,” said Harvard Budd 
promptly. 

“ My turn will come,” said Dolly cheer¬ 
fully ; “ you know Cora and I have a trip 
planned when she leaves Vassal*, and dear 
Mrs. Miller has promised to pet papa while 
we are gone.” 

“ Mrs. Thorpe will matronize you,” said 
Reggie, “ and I may have money enough to 
run over by that time.” 

“Oh yes, it is all arranged,” said Dolly; 
“ the boys will join us somewhere in France, 
and when we are short of funds we will give 
musical entertainments.” 

“ I should hope not,” said Mr. Budd with 
a serious face. 

“ Of course we will,” said Dolly, “ and you 
must bring all your friends and buy any 
quantity of tickets.” 

Mr. Budd did not like the plan; his 
sense of propriety was shocked, and 


A Break in the Chain . 


375 


Doctor Dick was not slow to perceive it. 

“ Oh yes,” said Dick, “ that was settled 
long ago at the Woodbox, and when the 
funds are especially low, Dolly will put on a 
wig and cap and sing on the streets to the 
music of a tambourine.” 

Harvard Budd’s face grew T dark, and Reg¬ 
gie made haste to say, “ Better add a mon¬ 
key to the troupe, Dick; don’t spoil a good 
story.” 

“ Certainly not,” said Dick ; “ but seriously, 
those girls did say something about teaching 
music, and the English branches, didn’t you, 
cousin Dolly ? ” 

“ Oh yes, we have varied our plans each 
year, and perhaps it is well that we cannot 
see the coming years; as Charlie says, I 
dread the breaking up ; but since it must 
come we will have a good farewell feast, and 
make the parting anything but dreary.” 

“ Now that pleases me,” said the Doctor; 
“ the bright side is the best side, and the 
evening shadows are never dreaded if we 


37 6 


Doctor Dick . 


use the sunshine cf the day as we should.” 

The young people turned involuntarily 
to look at him, and more than one felt the 
power of his sweet, untroubled spirit. 

He talked less every year, and yet his 
dear young people hovered about him and 
loved him more than ever. 

Mrs. Miller saw a change in him when¬ 
ever she came, but the family were so accus¬ 
tomed to his presence they did not observe 
the little things left undone. 

Even Dolly was blinded. She knew that 
he rose later in the morning and did not 
visit as much as formerly, but the winter had 
been trying, and after the boys graduated 
they would flit once more to the sea, and go 
in the autumn to his beloved library at the 
Woodbox. 

Dolly was sure of this, and already some 
preparations and improvements were- taking 
place in Georgetown, which she desired to 
keep a profound secret until her darling 
invalid reached home. 



“You are a brave little secretary.’’ — Page 377 















































































































































377 


A Break in the Chain . 

“ Daughter,” he said one day when she 
had been writing on the medical work which 
he had been preparing since his injuries, 
“ better rest eyes and hands now; you are a 
brave little secretary, and you may yet be 
compelled to finish your old fathers work 
alone.” 

“ Oh no, papa,” replied Dolly cheerfully ; 
“ we will finish it together and spend your 
receipts in refitting your study.” 

“ I sometimes fear not, my darling; but we 
need not talk of it now: you will see by the 
dedication that my faithful little pen-woman 
has been remembered.” 

Dolly turned to the opening pages of the 
manuscript and read : 

“To my beloved daughter, who has been 
eyes, hands, and feet to me for so many 
years, this work is dedicated by her loving 
father.” 

Dolly’s eyes filled with tears as she read 
it. “ I never expected such an honor, papa,” 
said she. 


37 s 


Doctor Dick . 


“ You have earned far more, little woman,” 
he replied. 

The father and daughter were growing near¬ 
er and nearer together as the years rolled on ; 
all Do! ly’s gay companions never d re w her from 
him ; in all her plans orpleasures he came first. 

As the time approached for the com¬ 
mencement exercises great preparations went 
on at the “Annex,” and no one entered more 
heartily into them than the Doctor. Marion 
and Dolly were very busy preparing their new 
dresses, and the boys were in high spirits. 

Miss Nina Moore was already provided 
for, as Mrs. Van Cleve insisted on sending 
her a suitable dress for the occasion, and 
better than all, both Mrs. Miller and Mrs. 
Van Cleve would be present; while General 
Gresham had written from Richmond that 
he would not miss the exercises for a small 
farm, and Colonel Brentford invited himself 
in a droll note two weeks before the boys 
sent out their invitations, where his name 
stood high on the list. 


A Break in the Chain . 


379 


Never did dear old Cambridge look bet¬ 
ter, never did prettier girls appear in fault¬ 
less dresses, and never did one roof cover 
three happier young men than were to be 
found at the “ Annex.” 

Jack Montgomery’s step-father aided 
him to a place in life by offering him a 
share in his office, where, as banker and 
broker, rumor said the old gentleman had 
made himself immensely wealthy. 

Doctor Miller informed his son that he 
might become his partner in New York, if 
he would promise to return from Europe 
free from all the snobbish airs so common to 
young Americans; and Reggie was gladly 
welcomed by Colonel Brentford, who de¬ 
clared an empty desk in his office had been 
waiting for him ever since the Colonel set- 

tied in Washington. 

^ \ 

Harvard Budd thought a run across 
would not be a bad thing, as his brother 
Hal needed a change. 

So it was settled. Jack with his mother. 


j80 


Doctor Dick . 


Doctor Dick and his “ sweetheart,” Miss 
Marion and the Professor, all sailed away 
one day in a Cunard steamer, and fond friends 
sent hundreds of good wishes after them. 

Then came the yearly flitting to the sea, 
where the absent ones were much missed, 
and their letters read eagerly. 

Charlie and Walter tried to cheer the 
girls, and even Joe proved a tolerable gal¬ 
lant; but who could take the place of the 
rollicking, happy Doctor Dick; the quiet, 
thoughtful Reggie, or Jack and Budd the 
magnificent? Surely not four young boys, 
try as they might. Ned was too much 
occupied to try, for at last he had received a 
notice from the Department at Washington, 
and in the early autumn he must hurry away 
and endure all the horrors of a competitive 
examination. 

He was nervous and fanciful, but still 
pored over his books, trying in vain to find 
out his weak points. Sometimes he was 
sure he should fail on the physical examina- 


A Break in the Chain . 381 

tion, although Doctor Warrington told him 
he was “ as .sound as a nut,” and sometimes 
he tortured himself, lest he might forget 
some simple question in geography. It was 
a busy, wearing summer to the boy, although 
his guardian insisted on a certain amount of 
exercise, both on horseback and in his boat. 
H is perseverance was rewarded, however, for 
he passed all dangers safely, and sent flying 
over the wires the cheering words, “ Ail 
right! ” His bright dream was realized at 
last, and he was duly enrolled as a student 

. V 

at the Naval Academy where, like all his 
comrades, he soon found that keeping in 
was much more difficult than getting in. 

Meantime the travellers were well and 
happy. Nina took a brief vacation with 
Arthur in Dolly’s home, where she read the 
foreign letters with many blushes, and when 
asked by the boys what dear old Jack was 
up to, and what he wrote, would answer 
simply, “ He seems very happy.” 

The family letters were a source of de- 


382 


Doctor Dick . 


light; evidently Doctor Dick was making 
good use of his eyes and ears, and he was 
also determined to give Reggie the full 
benefit of his travels. The two mothers 
enjoyed every moment with their big boys 
and quietly directed their movements and 
arranged the numerous trips designed to 
instruct and improve. Sometimes the four 
young men went away alone, leaving the 
ladies time for a quiet rest; but more fre¬ 
quently they were all enjoying to the full 
new scenes and historic places. 

General Gresham continued his admira¬ 
tion for Boston schools, and therefore Wal¬ 
ter and Charlie remained with Miss Lucinda 
at the “ Annex,’’ which was speedily filled up 
with bright young friends of theirs ; and at 
Dolly’s request, Nina Moore and Arthur 
made it their home. Both Walter and 
Charlie were homesick at first, but the feel¬ 
ing soon wore away as they became more 
and more interested in their studies, and 
Dolly’s letters never flagged. 


A Break in the Chain. 383 


In October the good Doctor desired to re¬ 
turn to the Woodbox, and his friend Doctor 
Miller kindly arranged for the journey. 

It was a lonely place without the many 
faces of the young men, but Dolly and 
Bertie were faithful attendants, and many 
were the plans made for the winter. 

Reggie and Colonel Brentford gave Dolly 
all possible assistance; the former occupying 
his old room, and the latter coming back and 
forth with news of the outside world to 
cheer the invalid. 

“ I think we shall have a delightful winter 
after all,” said Dolly to her father; “ Cora 
and Mrs. Birney will come at Christmas. 
General Gresham will join us and we will 
s£nd for Wally, and Bismarck — dear old 
boy! I am so glad his head troubles him 
but little now.” 

“ If we cannot have the entire group, we 
will enjoy a portion of it,” said Doctor 
Warrington with a smile; “that is true 
philosophy, little woman, and we have much 


Doctor Dick . 


384 

to be thankful for; did ever a plain, unpre¬ 
tentious little home turn out braver, purer 
young men ? ” 

“ And the sweetest part of it to me is, papa, 
that you guided and directed them all; even 
Mr. Budd says ‘ we owe our success largely 
to the good Doctor.’ ” 

“ Oh yes ! my children may be over-fond of 
their crippled teacher, but it rests me to 
think that, w T ander as they may over the 
world, the ever-watchful Father will in his 
own time re-unite them.” 

“And how delighted we shall be to wel¬ 
come them,” said Dolly; “who will be most 
rejoiced papa, you or I ? ” - 

“ The dear God knows, my darling,” replied 
the Doctor, as he stroked the girl’s curls pre¬ 
cisely as he used to do in her younger days. 

“ We will decorate your study, papa, and 
make the welcome home party a perfect ova¬ 
tion ; and then you know Jack and Nina will 
soon give a grand wedding, and you are 
already invited. 


A Break in the Chain . 383 

“ Has she consented to marry before he is 
established in business ? ” asked the Doc¬ 
tor. 

“ Oh no, he is to work hard fora year, and 
prove to Nina that he can earn as well as 
spend, before she will become his wife ; but a 
year soon runs away, and then you are to 
give away the bride—for little Nina insists on 
that—and Jack says ‘ Oh yes ! ’ to everything 
his betrothed utters.” 

/ 

“ And what does my little woman think of 
Cousin Gresham’s wooing ? ” asked the Doc¬ 
tor with a twinkle of fun; “ is she too, horri¬ 
fied because the sad-eyed soldier chooses a 
young bride ? ” 

“ Not a bit, papa; Marion seems so much 
older than she is, and they are suited to each 
other admirably; even Reggie thinks so, 
and the other boys all love her. I used to 
wish she was not my senior, but I am thank¬ 
ful for it now, and the poor man will have a 
happy home once more.” 

“ I hope so; daughter, and yet I am sur- 



j86 


Doctor Dick . 


prised that Miss Marion should be attracted 
to him, for so few see his real charac¬ 
ter. 

“ Our Marion is too womanly to be con¬ 
quered by externals,” said Dolly, warmly; 
“ but, papa, I often smile when I think of 
the love-letters now passing to and fro. 
How devoted the General is, and as to Jack, 
why, Nina admitted receiving two letters per 
week.” 

“Well, well, my darling, it is all very 
beautiful, and I, for one, can never laugh at 
young lovers; there is something too sacred 
and beautiful about it.” 

“ But you must confess, papa, that some 
lovers are very silly, and deserve to be made 
fun of.” 

“ Wait until your own turn comes, little 
woman,” replied her father smiling. 

“ It will never come, papa dear, for you and 
I are to be always together, and I am to be 
the good old maid of the party, and keep a 
home place for the rest.” 


A Break in the Chain . 38y 


“ Dear little woman,” said the Doctor ten¬ 
derly ; “ we shall be always together, in one 
sense, I am sure, and Heaven grant you may 
never be lonely in a world full of true and 
kind hearts.” 


CHAPTER XXVII. 



DOLLYS GREAT SORROW. . 

\jWftHRISTMAS came once more, and 
again the friends gathered about the 
Doctor at the Woodbox. 

General Gresham and Mrs. Neville, from 
Richmond; Mrs. Birney and Cora, Nina, 
Arthur, and the boys from Cambridge, and 
last, but not least, Joe, with eyes wide open, 
to see the sights in Washington. Miss 
Lucinda wrote that her shortness of breath 
made her feel a little wheezy and uncomfort¬ 
able, and Dolly could not miss her when she 
had so many about. 

It would be impossible to tell the entire 

story of that happy fortnight in one book, 

38S 


Dolly s Great Sorrow. 


389 


for Nina, Arthur, and Joe visited all the 
famous places in and around the city during 
the day, and at night when Reggie and the 
Colonel joined them, fun and merriment 
reigned supreme. 

“ I never saw your father brighter or hap¬ 
pier,” said General Gresham to Dolly one 
evening; “he grows younger instead of 
older.” 

Dolly glanced at the beloved figure in the 
chair, and answered eagerly, “ I know it; he 
seems superior to any external annoyance ; 
the irritation which affected him durino; the 
war has entirely disappeared, and he enjoys 
everything. Mrs. Thorpe thinks him less 
able to endure effort of any kind, but I do 
not observe it.” 

“ I think he is not as strong,” said the 
General sadly, “but we must all admit that 
his soul rules his body. I wish we could in¬ 
duce him to spend the spring months in 
Richmond.” 

“ Reggie has talked with him about it,” 


390 


Doctor Dick . 


said Dolly, “ but he says he cannot think of 
another journey, and you know Reggie is 
like a dear son to him. I don’t know what 
we should do without him. Papa depends 
on him for matters outside precisely as he 
does on me for the affairs within.” 

“ And what shall we do with that small 
boy of mine?’’said the General, as he saw 
Bertie leaning on the Doctor’s shoulder. 

“ I hope you won’t take him from me,” said 
Dolly in a pleading tone; “no one under¬ 
stands him as I do, and I am afraid it would 
be a great trial to papa; and yet it is your 
right.” 

“ Nonsense, little woman,” said the Gen¬ 
eral ; “ you alone have any rights in the 
matter; he owes all he is to you, and you 
shall not be separated until you grow weary 
of your charge. You can see how unfit my 
poor sister is for care or responsibility.” 

Mrs. Neville was indeed the wreck of a 
once beautiful woman; quiet and subdued, 
but always ladylike and courteous, she took 


Dolly s Great Sorrow . 39 T 

little interest in the active pursuits of the 
young people, and chose to pass her time in 
silent contemplation. tier brother antici¬ 
pated all her wants and kept from her any¬ 
thing which might depress her or recall the 
past. 

Dolly experienced a sense of loneliness 
when her guests had departed to their sev¬ 
eral homes, but her many duties kept her 
fully occupied. Every morning she wrote 
for her father and then devoted herself to 
her organ practice while he slept. Soon 
after her return she had been urged to 
accept her old position as organist, and 
many of her father’s old friends were proud 
of her talent and skill. 

True to her theory, that no education is 
ever finished until life ceases, she faithfully 
kept up her studies with Reggie and her 
father, and yet found time for many little 
works of love outside. 

Dode’s mother came to the assistance of 
Aunt Axy, and Mrs. Thorpe found her chief 


39 2 


Doctor Dick . 


happiness in relieving Dolly of numerous 
household cares. 

“We are very cosy,” Dolly wrote to Mrs. 
Miller. “ Every one has something to do, 
and every one does it; consequently all goes 
well; but I miss you terribly, and Reggie 
often says I would give half of my last dol¬ 
lar to see Doctor Dick to-night.” 

Dolly little dreamed of coming sorrow, 
and day after day she chatted of the pleasant 
things to be done when the travellers re¬ 
turned. 

One evening in February when the family 
were gathered in the doctors study for 
prayers, Reginald read the psalm as usual 
and waited for the doctor’s petition. After a 
pai/se, his sweet, even voice said, “ Thy will 
be done, oh Father,” and the listeners heard 
no more. 

Dolly, who was kneeling by his chair as 
she had knelt since a child, raised her head 
quickly and saw the clasped hands, the closed 
eyes, and the dear face crowned with a smile. 


Dolly s Great Sorrow. 


393 


She sprang up exclaiming, “ Papa, papa, 
are you ill ? ” 

The family gathered about the Doctor 
and Bertie at once ran for a physician, but 
his words only confirmed those of Colonel 
Brentford : “ He is resting at last.” 

Poor Dolly was overcome with grief, and 
for many hours Mrs. Thorpe and Reggie 
watched over her as she struggled with her 
sudden sorrow. 

It was a fit ending to a beautiful life, but 
the orphan girl could not realize that hence¬ 
forth she must live without him. 

Doctor Miller came promptly from New 
York and General Gresham hurried from 
Richmond, but all their kindness and ten¬ 
derness could not console her. 

“ I do not want to live without him,” said 
Dolly, as Doctor Miller held her close to his 
heart, and begged her to think of the work 
he had left her to do. “ If I could only go 
too, it would be well.” 

Poor child,” said the Doctor to Reggie 


394 


Doctor Dick . 


the evening after the Doctor’s death, “ she 
does not shed a tear, and we are powerless to 
help her; I wonder if Cora could come to 
her for a little while.” 

Reggie wrote Cora at once, but she was 
then ill with pneumonia and could not leave 
her bed, consequently she was not told of 
her friend’s great sorrow. 

After the funeral had taken place, Dolly 
went into the study and began her work on 
the book with a drawn, pale face, and deep- 
set eyes. 

For several days Doctor Miller and Reg¬ 
gie sat with her and assisted her, thinking it 

O 1 O 

best to indulge her until her bitter grief 
might find some outlet, but Dolly worked on 
with the same calm face and compressed 
lips. Her whole life seemed centred in the 
work he had given her to do. 

Bertie missed her loving caresses, and 

% 

even Aunt Axy followed her about with a 
wistful look. No duty was neglected. Her 
plants were daily cared for, the little house- 


Dolly's Great Sorrow . 


395 


hold duties faithfully performed, and yet she 
could not meet the people who called or ven¬ 
ture beyond her own door. 

“ If she would only play,” said Reggie; 
“ even one strain of music would help ; but 
how can we suggest it ? ” 

“Thank you for the thought,” said Doctor 
Miller; “music must be our remedy. I 
could not return to New York and leave our 
dear girl in this condition.” 

Sunday passed, and yet Dolly made no 
complaint, but went about with the hopeless 
look still on her face. She had requested 
Reo;Qje to see the chorister and arrange for 

oo o 

an organist; beyond that the day was passed 
quietly at home. 

“ Dolly, my child,” said Doctor Miller one 
evening, “ I wish you would go out with me 
for a few moments. I know you do not wish 
to, but it is many years since you have put 
your wishes before the happiness of others, 
and I need you now; will you trust 


39 6 


Doctor Dick . 


“ Perfectly,” said Dolly; “ we will go when 
it is darker, but not now.” 

The Doctor humored her. 

“ All right, my dear ; I will not weary you, 
and when we return Mrs. Thorpe must give 
us a glass of her excellent milk punch to 
refresh us.” 

Mrs. Thorpe understood the suggestion, 
for Dolly had eaten but little since her 
trouble came, and her friends were giving 
her nourishment in liquid form. It was 
pitiful to see her take all they offered with a 
sad, wistful look, followed by a never-failing 
“ Thank you.” 

When the shadows had deepened, Mrs. 
Thorpe brought Dolly’s hat and wrap, which 
she put on mechanically, without one glance 
toward a mirror, or any thought of her per¬ 
sonal appearance. 

As she left the house leaning on the 
Doctor’s arm, Reggie threw himself into a 
chair, and buried his face in his hands. 

“ If this does not rouse her, she will die,” 


Dolly s Great Sorrow . 397 

said he, bitterly. “ I wish Mrs. Miller would 
come home; she might help her.” 

“ I have sent them word.” said General 
Gresham, “ but we cannot hear for several 
days, and you know their present locality is 
quite uncertain.” 

“It is this dumb sorrow which wears on 
one,” said Colonel Brentford. “ I hoped she 
would be roused out of this alarming condi- 
tion when Bertie brought her those letters 
from her father’s old classmates, but the 
poor girl read them all with dry, hard eyes.” 

Doctor Miller directed his steps toward 
the church, and still Dolly did not speak 
except to reply to all questions in the briefest 
possible manner. 

She did not see that the stairway was 
lighted; she did not notice that the gas 
burner by the music-rack shone on a piece 
of music until the Doctor in his tenderest 
tones said: “We are alone here, my child, 
and it would give me great pleasure if you 
would try this for me; nothing but an 


39 8 


Doctor Dick . 


organ can do justice to these chords.” 

The music before her simply presented to 
her a duty to be performed, and she played 
the prelude half through before she felt the 
old power returning to her; then, as the key 
changed and the Doctor turned the page, 

she saw before her the sweet, sacred words 

« 

last uttered by her beloved dead. 

Doctor Miller watched her with moist 
eyes. He saw the strong effort to still 
maintain the calm exterior; he observed the 
tremulous motion of the slender fingers on 
the keys, and then when the soprano solo 
began and the pale lips tried to move, his 
practiced eye detected the first symptoms of 
reaction. 

Twice did the brave girl repeat the strain 
so sweetly sad, and then, with a cry of 
despair, she bowed her head on the organ 
and wept aloud. Doctor Miller uttered a 
half-audible “Thank God!” and sat down 
beside her. 

When at last she said in her bitterness : 


Dolly's Great Sorrow . JP9 

“ I cannot live without him, and Heaven is 
not just,” the stout-hearted physician joined 
his tears with hers and led her to speak 
freely, as she had not done since the death of 
her father. 

Doctor Miller wisely refrained from all 
attempts to comfort her, and simply said: 
“ My darling, my heart aches for you, and it 
is indeed hard to bear, but healing will come 
in time. Sit here for a few moments while 
I give you the tenor solo in my clumsy 
fashion. Music will do our souls good, and 
you must make it your friend hereafter, as it 
has ever been.” ✓ 

The Doctor had a fine tenor voice and 
was already familiar with his score, for he 
had stolen away during the afternoon and, 
with the aid of the sexton, had prepared for 
Dolly’s visit. 

In the words, “In all our sorrows, Thou 
art near,” Dolly felt the first gleam of com¬ 
fort, and as the Doctor closed with the 
refrain, “ Thy will be done,” she found her- 


4oo 


Doctor Dick . 


self thinking of her father as she had not 
yet been able to think. 

“ Observe this chord,” said the Doctor, as 
he repeated a measure. “ Is it not fine ? 

i 

Sometime we will sing it together, my child, 
and your skillful fingers will not blunder as 
mine are now doing.” 

“ Let me play it for you,” said Dolly. 

The Doctor gladly made way for her; his 
heart was full of thanksgiving, and he well 
knew that the healing art finds medicine 
only one agent. 

Dolly did not attempt to sing one note, 
but her fingers no longer trembled ; and as 
the Doctor’s rich voice resounded through 
the empty church, she said softly to herself: 
“ Papa seems nearer to me here, and I must 
come here to-morrow.” 

When the music was finished to the Doc¬ 
tor’s satisfaction, he went down stairs with 
his charge, nodded to the sexton who was 
sitting on the steps, and went back to the 
Woodbox with a lighter heart, for he remem- 


Dolly s Great Sorrow . 4 01 

bered a solemn promise given to his friend 
long before that Dolly should be cherished 
as his own daughter if he was called home. 

“ Now, Mrs. Thorpe,” said he cheerfully, 
as he entered the house, “ let us have the 
milk punch for my patient, and then she 
must retire early, for to-morrow she and I 
have some business matters to arrange and 
on the following day I must return to New 
York.” 

That night Mrs. Thorpe found Dolly 
sleeping peacefully, and the next morning 
she presented herself in the breakfast-room 
at the usual hour with a sad look, touching 
to see, but the Comforter had been with her, 
and danger was now past. 

Mrs. Neville and General Gresham were 
anxious to have Dolly and Bertie join them 
in Richmond, but Dolly found it impossible 
to leave. 

Beside the necessary duties connected 
with settling her father’s estate, she desired 
to complete his literary work as rapidly as 


402 


Doctor Dick . 


possible, and the publishers were already 
making demands on her time. 

Reginald was doing excellent work -in his 
profession, and in every possible manner he 
devoted himself to Dolly and her work of 
love. It was a sincere pleasure to do some¬ 
thing for those who had done so much for 
him. 

Doctor Warrington’s well-known method¬ 
ical habits left little to cause annoyance to 
his sole executor, and only child, and if it 
had been otherwise, both Reginald and Col¬ 
onel Brentford were ever ready to aid her. 

“ I shall feel better when I hear from Mrs. 
Miller,” said Dolly one day when she had 
read the copy of a letter sent by her father 
to that dear friend, in which he desired Mrs. 
Miller to be a mother to his darling. 

“ We shall all feel better,” said Reggie, 
“ and I fancy Dick will start for home as 
soon as the news re?.ches him.” 

“ I hope not,” said Dolly. “ Much as I 
long to see them, it would be a pity to spoil 


Dolly s Great Sorrow . 4 °3 

their trip; and, after all, you know they 
could not be with us, and nothing can ever 
make it like the old days.” 

“ The days to come will be richer and 
fuller for those old days,” said Reggie. “ We 
have been a happy family, have we not ? ” 

“ So happy that I dare not trust myself to 
think about it. Do you know, Reggie, that 
I have never answered Miss Lucinda’s kind 
letter which she wrote me when she heard 
the sad news. I know it is wrong, but she 
knew us all so well, and loved him so much, 
I cannot write.” 

“I wrote her,” said Reggie quietly; “in¬ 
deed, I ventured to spare you all I could and 
if you would like to listen, I will read you a 
little note which I received yesterday.” 

“ Do, please. I have so much to thank 
you for, Reggie, when I can.” 

“Miss Lucinda writes from the boys’ 
room,” said Reginald, “and although her 
writing is cramped, there is not a kink in 
her sweet, faithful soul.” 


4°4 


Doctor Dick . 


“My dear Mr. Reginald: 

“ I feel in my heart a thousand things 
which I might write out if I had your learn¬ 
ing. I think almost every hour in the day 
of Miss Dolly; she seems almost like my 
own flesh and blood, and no one knows bet¬ 
ter than me how* she was bound up in her 
pa. It was beautiful to see them together 
all their lives, and often and often he would 
say : ‘Well, Lucinda, when my little girl is 
settled in life, I shall be content to die.’ 
That’s what troubles me ; she ain’t settled, 
and the last person she will think of will be 
Dolly Warrington. She’s shown that spirit 
since she was a little mite, and now I want 
to ask you just how she is going to be left 
for money. You see I know it cost our 
family considerable to live and the Doctor 
had some heavy losses; if all who owed him 
paid their just dues, his child would be an 
heiress. I write to you particular as a busi¬ 
ness lawyer to see to this. As I look at it 
that book will be an expense, and she would 


Dolly's Great Sorrow. 4°5 

carry it through if it took her last penny. 
What I want to come at, only it isn’t easy 
on paper, is this: I have made some money 
out of my boarders, and have sold two 
building lots down to the shore, and if that 
dear girl isn’t going to have plenty of means 
I want you to let me send this right away to 
you, and you must buy some government 
bonds and never let her know but her pa 
left them. You see I don’t mind telling you 
now that the interest money her mother left 
she spent the most of on our boys. Please 
attend to this right away and take good care 
of that blessed girl. I miss her constant 
every day. Yours respectful, 

Lucinda Dodge.” 

“ P. S. The boys are all doing well every 
way.” 

“ I must write her at once,” said Dolly, 
with tears in her eyes; “she must know that 
papa’s stocks were at last successful, and we 
must tell her about the life insurance also. 
What generous, noble friends I have, Reg* 


Doctor Dick. 


406 

gie, and yet a few weeks since I thought I 
had nothing to live for.” 

“ You must get Miss Lucinda to join you 
somewhere at the mountains next summer,” 
said Reggie; “ it will help you both, and I 
think we will not care to visit the shore.” 

“ Oh no,” said Dolly; “ we must not see 
too many places made sacred by his pres¬ 
ence.” 

“ The world will always be full of him for 
us,” said Reggie, reverently. “ I miss him 
everywhere, and I am constantly wishing I 
could imitate his cheerfulness.” 

“ Did you hear what Colonel Brentford 
said of his bravery ? ” asked Dolly. 

“ No, but the gallant Colonel knows the 
full meaning of the word.” 

“ When the Colonel was wounded he said 
he did not permit himself to think of the 
pain, but only of papa’s face and words as 
he bade him good-by. Papa said to him: 

‘ If you are wounded, my dear fellow, as I 
pray you may not be, think of your crippled 


Dolly s Great Sorrow. 


407 


friend, and remember that it requires greater 
courage to live and endure, than to die and 
be free.’ Surely / should be brave for such 
a father’s sake.” 

Poor Dolly! It was hard to be brave and 
endure, even with hosts of dear friends, but 
her father’s God was her comforter. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 


DOCTOR DICKS RIVAL. 

go home,” said Dick, as soon 
father’s message reached him. 
“ I am quite ready,” replied his mother. 
“ My heart aches when I think of Dolly.” 

Mrs. Van Cleve and the party decided 
to remain longer, although they were much 
saddened by the news of the doctor’s death, 
and all thought of and sympathized with 
Dolly. 

“ I would rush on to-morrow,” said Jack, 
“if I could help the poor girl; and yet I 
shouldn’t be able to say a word, I know.” 

“ One would be dumb indeed, before 

408 



Doctor DicISs Rival\ 


409 


his empty chair,” said Harvard Budd. 

“ I always feel like running out of a sick¬ 
room,” said Jack. “ I can’t bear the sight 
of pain or suffering; cowardly, I know. 
And here is Doctor Dick who would con¬ 
ceal his own feelings to help any one in 
sorrow.” 

It was a sad journey home. Mrs. Miller 
felt anxious about Dolly ; for Mrs. Thrope, 
although excellent and kind, was so sad¬ 
dened by her own losses she could not 
cheer the orphan girl. 

Doctor Miller met his wife and son at 
the steamer, and the first question asked 
was : 

“ How is Dolly ? ” 

“ Bearing her trouble bravely,” said the 
doctor, “ but it wears upon her. Don’t 
be surprised to see her pale and thin.” 

“Shall we go there at once?” 

“ Yes, she expects you. I am quite sure, 
Mary, that you will prove the tonic she 
needs.” 


/ 


410 


Doctor Dick . 


“ I am so thankful Reggie is with her, 
and Bertie too,” said Mrs. Miller. 

“ Yes ; Colonel Brentford also has been 
most devoted. You know he wished to 
marry Dolly, and although her father ad¬ 
mired him, he refused to influence her in 
any manner.” 

“ Wanted to marry our Dolly ! ” said 
Mrs. Miller in surprise. 

“ Certainly, my love ; you were married at 
her age.” 

“ True,” said Mrs. Miller, “ but somehow 
I never thought of her as anything save a 
very womanly girl, and I don’t think the 
thought of marriage has entered her 
head.” 

“ It seems not,” said the doctor laughing, 
“ for she sent the poor Colonel to the right 
about, and told him she had resolved to 
devote her life to her father.” 

“ And still Colonel Grit is devoted ? ” 
said Mrs. Miller. 

“Oh, yes; your manly man could not 


Doctor Dick's Rival ' 


4 ix 

stand aloof and see a woman he cared for 
suffer.” 

“And how does she occupy herself? 
what is she doing ? ” 

“ Working now on the index of her 
father’s book; it is nearly complete and 
she deserves great credit for it.” 

All this Doctor Dick heard in silence. 
At last, as the train neared Washington, 
his father said : 

“ Dick, my boy, our friend left you a small 
fortune in books, provided his daughter does 
not desire to make use of them. They are 
rare and valuable medical works, but I fancy 
Dolly will use them herself some day. 
Several of her father’s friends are quite 
anxious to have her study medicine, and 
indeed he wished it himself, but the coming 
of the Rebels changed their plans.” 

“ I hope I shall never see her practicing 
medicine,” said Dick with a frown. 

“ I hope I shall,” said his mother. “ I re¬ 
member how valuable her services were 


412 


Doctor Dick . 


in the hospital, and the surgeons urged 
her then to devote herself to the healing 
art.” . 

“ Well, if Dolly Warrington sets herself 
up for an M. D. I will quit practice,” said 
Dick hotly. 

“Tut, tut,” said the doctor, “don’t be 
too sure, my boy. I shall offer to take 
her into partnership myself. Remember, 
she is up with you in most branches, and 
will prove a powerful rival.” 

“ Don’t talk about it, father,” replied Dick 
impatiently. 

“ Dick’s fretful ness was forgotten when 
he saw his friends sad face, and it was 
Dolly who comforted him, for brave as he 
tried to be, the sight of the doctor’s empty 
chair overcame him as well as his mother. 

“ It is such a change,” said Dolly sadly, 
“ and it can never be better, that is the 
worst of it; but, Dick, he talked of you 
only a little while before prayers that night, 
and said: 


Doctor DicJSs Rival. 


4*3 


“ ‘Mark me, Dolly, I expect great things of 
Dick. Tell him I said so.’ ” 

“‘You can tell him yourself, papa, when we 
have a welcome home-party,’ I said. “He 
only smiled, and patted my hand. He knew 
that the end was near, and he would not 
grieve us.” 

“ My darling, it is hard indeed for you 
to live without him,” said Mrs. Miller, folding 
the girl in her arms; “remember our old 
compact, you are my daughter now.” 

“ And I am so glad to be; you will never 
know how glad, for you will help me to 
do all he wished, and that is my one happi¬ 
ness now.” 

Mrs. Miller was surprised to see the 
calmness and strength of this young girl 
whose entire affection had been lavished 
on her invalid father. She said as much 
to her that night, as they sat together in 
Dolly’s room, while the gentlemen talked 
below. 

“ God sends the strength as we need it/’ 


Doctor Dick. 


414 

said Dolly simply, “ but you do not see the 
bitter, weary hours, or know the ever crying 
want.” 

“ I do know, darling, for I have borne it 
all, and therefore I can say with a full heart, 
be my own child, as nearly as possible, 
tell me all your troubles, your hopes, your 
fears.” 

“ Dear mamma,” said Dolly, “ your coming 
has given me new courage, and you must 
not mind if I am sometimes sad, even when 
you are kindest.” 

“ I shall not mind anything save an inter¬ 
ruption to our mutual love.” 

“ Can I come in ? ” called Dick as of old 
from the hall. 

“Yes,” replied Dolly. “We are having 
our twilight chat, you see.” 

“ And I am not interrupting ? ” asked 
Dick. 

“ Oh, no ; we were going down shortly.” 

“ Before you go let me ask a question ? ” 

“ A dozen, if you wish*” 


Doctor Dick's Rival. 


4*5 


“ Can it be true that you are going to 
college as soon as your work on your father’s 
book is complete ? ” 

“ It is quite true. I shall enter Boston 
University, and the Huntleys have invited 
me to share their home, — everyone is so 
kind to me ! ” 

“ It is folly. Don’t do it,” exclaimed Dick. 
“ Mother, persuade her to give up this plan.” 

“ It was a cherished wish of my father’s, 
Dick,” said Dolly with trembling lips, “ and 
therefore sacred. I do not wish Reggie to 
know it, but my entire course was laid out 
by my father, and only changed because the 
boys came to us.” 

“ But you do not need a profession; leave 
it to the women who must work,” said Dick. 
“ You are independent as it is, do be reason¬ 
able, Dolly.” 

“ I am quite so, I hope,” said Dolly, re¬ 
sponding to the slight pressure of Mrs. Mill¬ 
er’s hand. “ The dearest friends I have left 
on earth approve, and I must do it.” 


416 


Doctor Dick . 


“Can’t you reason with her, mother?” 
said Dick. “ She needs rest, quiet, care, not 
a severe course of study.” 

“ She will rest before she enters on her 
course,” said Mrs. Miller, “and I quite agree 
with her. She inherits her father’s taste 
and skill; your father and her own father’s 
friends all approve, and her own heart tells 
her 'she can do a good work in the world; 
much as I love her, I could not utter one 
selfish word.” 

“ Thank you, mamma dear,” said Dolly, 
kissing the hand she held. 

Dick left the room hurriedly. It was use¬ 
less to address his father; he too agreed 
with Dolly : he would try Colonel Brentford. 
The Colonel and Reggie were engaged in 
sealing some packages which Dolly had 
ready for the publisher. 

“Colonel,” said Dick abruptly, “do you 
think it wise or sensible for Miss Warrington 
to go away alone to study medicine ? ” 

“ Miss Warrington has not asked my ad- 


Doctor Dick's Rival. 


4*1 

vice on the subject,” said the Colonel calm- 

iy” 

“ What do you think of it ? ” 

“ If you want my opinion, I will give it. 
I am not a conservative in all things. I be- 
lieve devoutly in working out what God has 
worked in, and Miss Warrington, by inher¬ 
itance, observation, and study, is eminently 
fitted to be a superior physician; women 
need physicians of their own sex, and I am 
not sure, Doctor Dick, that it would be quite 
as agreeable to have you bandage this trou¬ 
blesome arm of mine, as it would Miss War¬ 
rington.” 

The Colonel smiled, but Dick was vexed. 

“ What do you say, Reg ? ” 

“ I say now as I have always said, that 
Dolly will do the best thing, and I should 
act as she is doing. My dear guardian fre¬ 
quently told me that Dolly was designed for 
a physician, and I shall make it as easy for 
her as I can.” 

Poor Dick was in trouble! no one agreed 


418 Doctor Dick . 

with him on this important subject, and in 
his despair he sat down and wrote a long 

letter to Doctor H-. “ He will think as 

I do,” said Dick to his mother; “ think of 
Dolly making midnight calls, and going out 
in storms ! ” 

“ She has played the organ in church and 
braved all storms,” said Mrs. Miller, “ besides, 
my dear boy, you forget that this wise gen¬ 
eration sees the folly of the past, and mid¬ 
night calls are not as common now.” 

“ Well, Doctor H-will not encourage 

it,” said Dick in a positive tone. 

Four days later came the Doctor’s letter. 

“ My Dear Young Friend: — No use, the 
world moves. My granddaughter will be a 
‘ pill pedlar’ in spite of me, and Dolly War¬ 
rington will be an ornament to the profes¬ 
sion. 

“ We have some brave women doing: £ood 

o o 

work here in Boston as doctors, and you 
may be sure when the child of my old and 




Doctor Dick's Rival. 419 

beloved friend takes her degree, one of the 
first to welcome her will be your conserva¬ 
tive, but sincere friend 

H-” 

Dick went to New York with his father 
to fit up his office and make active prepara¬ 
tions for business soon after the arrival of 

the note from Doctor H-. He said little 

to Dolly at parting, but his mother saw that 
her boy was trying to overcome a prejudice 
which now made him uncomfortable. 

Meantime our little friend Dode was 
lodged with Mrs. Miller’s housekeeper, where 
she busied herself in various ways beside 
singing, and she it was who aided the gen¬ 
tlemen in arranging the rooms devoted to 
Doctor Dick and his patients. 

Mrs. Miller remained a few weeks with 
Dolly, and then went with her to Richmond, 
where Bertie was left with his father. Soon 
after, the Woodbox was left in the care of 
Reggie and Colonel Brentford, who gladly 




420 


Doctor Dick . 


hastened there after tiresome days in their 
office. 

Charlie and Walter were delighted to have 
Dolly near them once more, and Marion 
Huntley regarded her as a sister. 

How Dolly succeeded in her studies, how 
Doctor Dick changed his views, how Reggie 
grew famous, and General Gresham wealthy 
once more, and dear fleshy Miss Lucinda 
loved and petted Dolly, would require a 
volume to tell. We must, however, take time 
and room to add that, during a recent visit 
to New York we heard our good friend Mrs. 
Van Cleve mention a young man of our ac¬ 
quaintance. 

“Oh,” said she, “the Woodbox and the An¬ 
nex have turned out some rare young persons. 
When I want something done for my poor 
people, I am always sure of help from that 
clear-headed, warm-hearted Doctor Dick.” 


THE END. 


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\ ' 1 

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Egypt* occupied the geographical centre of the ancient 
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'JUL 24 1347 









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